When did Cathy Freeman start her running career?

When did Cathy Freeman start her running career?

Cathy became involved in athletics at a very young age and won her first race at eight years old. During her 2000 Olympic Games victory lap in the 400 metre sprint she carried both the Australian and Aboriginal flags — a symbol of reconciliation and pride in her Aboriginal cultural heritage.

What is Cathy Freemans major events in life?

Cathy went on to win the silver medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics in an Australian record time of 48.63 seconds, before going onto win two world championship gold medals in 1997 and 1999. A two-time Commonwealth champion, Cathy also won 14 national titles across the 100m, 200m and 400m.

Who was the first person to encourage Cathy Freeman to run?

When Freeman was still a girl, her talent in running was obvious. Her mother, Cecilia, encouraged her to pursue her interest in athletics, and when she was ten, her stepfather, Bruce Barber, told her she could win a gold medal at the Olympics if she trained properly.

Has Cathy Freeman retired from running?

In 1998, Freeman took a break from running due to injury. She returned from injury in form with a first place in the 400 m at the 1999 World Championships. She announced her retirement from athletics in 2003. In 2007, she founded the Cathy Freeman Foundation….Cathy Freeman.

Personal information
Retired	1 July 2003

How long did Cathy Freeman run for?

For the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, she was chosen to light the Olympic flame during the opening ceremony, an act some regarded as a move toward Aboriginal reconciliation (see Cathy Freeman: The Heart of a Nation). Under high expectations, Freeman went on to win a gold medal in the 400 metres.

Why did Cathy Freeman run?

Freeman began competitive running on the advice of her stepfather. At age 17 she won a gold medal at the 1990 Commonwealth Games as a member of the 4 × 100-metre relay team and was named Young Australian of the Year. In 1992 she became the first Australian Aboriginal person to compete in the Olympics.

How old was Cathy Freeman when she ran in the Olympics?

As a child Freeman loved running. From her teenage years she dreamed of winning an Olympic gold medal. By 2000, when the Olympics came to Australia, she was 27 years old, and at the peak of her career. At all Olympics since 1928 a sacred flame has been kept alight for the duration of the Games.

What did Cathy Freeman do for a living?

Cathy Freeman is a former Australian sprinter and Olympic medallist. She won a silver medal at the 1996 Olympics followed by gold at the 2000 summer Olympics. In the early part of her life, she went through issues like racial discrimination. At a very young age, she dreamt of leaving a mark as a female athlete.

Why did Cathy Freeman run a measured race?

Freeman ran a measured race. On the final bend two other runners were close to her, but in the straight Cathy powered away to win by three metres. The pressure had been huge, but she had lived up to the nation’s dreams. Freeman was keenly aware of the many injustices done to Aboriginal people.

When did Cathy Freeman become young Australian of the year?

Cathy Freeman was named Young Australian of the Year in 1990. In 2001 she received the Medal of the Order of Australia and was named the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year. Freeman retired from running in 2003.