- Entry type: Person
- Entry ID: AWE1088
Freeman, Catherine (Cathy) Astrid Salome
- OAM
- Born 16 February, 1973, Mackay Queensland Australia
- Occupation Commonwealth or Empire Games Gold Medalist, Olympian, Track and Field Athlete
Summary
Catherine (Cathy) Freeman was born in Mackay in Queensland in 1973. As a very good runner, she won a scholarship to boarding school where she was able to have professional coaching. In 1994 she became the first Aboriginal sprinter to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, going on to win a silver medal in the 1996 Olympic Games and then gold at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
She is very proud of her Aboriginal heritage and has carried the Australian and Aboriginal flags around the track after winning a race, which at times has resulted in public controversy.
She was made Young Australian of the Year in 1990 and Australian of the Year in 1998. She is the first person to receive both awards.
Events
-
2000
Athletics – 400m Event
Gold Medalist at the Sydney Olympic Games -
1996
Athletics – 400m event
Silver Medalist at the Atlanta Olympic Games -
1992
Competed at Barcelona
-
2002
Athletics – 4 x 400m Relay
Gold Medalist at Manchester Commonwealth Games -
1990
Athletics – 4 X 100m Relay
Gold Medalist at Auckland Commonwealth Games -
2001
Inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women
-
1994
Athletics – 200m and 400m
Gold Medalist at Victoria Commonwealth Games
Archival resources
Digital resources
Published resources
-
Resource
- Trove: Freeman, Cathy (1973-), http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-507168
- Australia at the Games, Australian Olympic Committee, 2006, http://corporate.olympics.com.au/index.cfm?p=25
-
Site Exhibition
- She's Game: Women Making Australian Sporting History, Australian Women's Archives Project, 2007, http://www.womenaustralia.info/exhib/sg/sport-home.html
- The Encyclopedia of Women and Leadership in Twentieth-Century Australia, Smart, Judith and Swain, Shurlee (eds.), 2014, http://www.womenaustralia.info/leaders