Cathy Freeman

Cathy Freeman, OAM (born 16 February 1973) is a retired Australian sprinter. She ran mostly in the 400 metres event. She became the Olympic champion for the women's 400 metres at the 2000 Summer Olympics. She lit the Olympic Flame at the beginning of the 2000 games.TorchRelay – Photos: Cathy Freeman lights the Olympic Flame . The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad. She has won several medals at the Commonwealth Games, the Olympics, and the IAAF World Championships. She retired from athletics in 2003.

Freeman was born in Slade Point, Mackay, Queensland. She is Aboriginal. Her mother was born in the Manbarra community on Palm Island. Freeman was raised as a Bahá'í.Cos I'm Free (AKA Cathy Freeman). 10 March 2006. Message Stick. Program transcript.The love and pain that inspire Cathy, Top athlete may journey from the winner's podium to the Academy Awards by Michael Dwyer, The Age, 9 March 2006Born to Run (extract)  Chapter 1 Running Free, Penguin Group (Australia)

In 1998, she was awarded Australian of the Year. In 2001, she was given both the World Sportswoman of the Year and the Medal of the Order of Australia.

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Other websites

Category:1973 births
Category:Living people
Category:Olympic gold medalists for Australia
Category:Olympic silver medalists for Australia
Category:Bahá'ís
Category:Commonwealth Games medallists
Category:Indigenous Australian sportspeople
Category:Order of Australia
Category:Sportspeople from Queensland
Category:World champions
Category:Australian athletes