![]() | ||
Medal record | ||
---|---|---|
Women’s Athletics | ||
Representing ![]() | ||
Olympic Games | ||
![]() |
2000 Sydney | 400 m |
![]() |
1996 Atlanta | 400 m |
World Championships | ||
![]() |
1997 Athens | 400 m |
![]() |
1999 Seville | 400 m |
![]() |
1995 Gothenburg | 4 × 400 m relay |
Commonwealth Games | ||
![]() |
1990 Auckland | 4 × 100 m |
![]() |
1994 Victoria | 200 m |
![]() |
1994 Victoria | 400 m |
![]() |
2002 Manchester | 4 × 400 m |
![]() |
1994 Victoria | 4 × 100 m |
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.[1] She lit the Olympic Flame at the beginning of the 2000 games.[2] 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.[1] Her mother was born in the Manbarra community on Palm Island. Freeman was raised as a Bahá'í.[3][4][5]
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.