Cathy freeman suit
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Personal Bests
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Cathy Freeman
Aboriginal Australian athlete and Olympic gold medallist (born 1973)
"Catherine Freeman" redirects here. For the British television producer, see Catherine Freeman (television producer).
For the fictional character, see Kathy Freeman.
Freeman in 2008 | |
| Full name | Catherine Astrid Salome Freeman |
|---|---|
| Born | (1973-02-16) 16 February 1973 (age 52) Mackay, Queensland, Australia |
| Education | Kooralbyn International school Fairholme College |
| Alma mater | University of Melbourne |
| Occupation | Australian sprinter/runner |
| Height | 164 cm (5 ft 5 in) |
| Weight | 56 kg (8 st 11 lb; 123 lb)[1] |
| Spouse | Sandy Bodecker (m. 1999; div. 2003)James Murch (m. 2009; sep. 2024) |
| Country | Australia |
| Sport | Sprint |
| University team | University of Melbourne |
| Coached by | Step-father Bruce Barber, Mike Danila, Peter Fortune |
| Retired | 1 July 2003 |
Catherine Astrid Salome FreemanOAM (bor
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Cathy Freeman
Olympic gold: the 400 metres
Freeman’s event was the biggest on the Sydney Olympic calendar, and organisers wanted to send a powerful signal to the world about reconciliation.
When asked to light the Olympic cauldron, Freeman accepted the honour without hesitation. And when warned about the extra pressure it would bring, she replied: ‘I like pressure. It’s when I perform at my best.'
The 400-metre race was her best event and the main focus of the Games. She had won it at the Commonwealth Games in 1994, and at the World Championships in 1997 and 1999. At the previous Olympic Games, in Atlanta in 1996, she had won silver, narrowly coming in second to French legend Marie-José Pérec.
The world was hoping that Sydney would bring a rematch of that encounter. But, to Freeman’s disappointment, Pérec pulled out a few days before the race, citing the pressure of competing against a hometown favourite.
Freeman had entered the Games in good form, and comfortably won the three preliminary heats. For the final she wore a Nike Swift Suit, a green, gold
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