Disappointment and adversity can be catalysts for greatness.
Cathy Freeman is a proud Kuku Yalanji woman. She is also an Australian Indigenous Olympic champion.
Cathy ran her first race when she was five and realized that she loved the way racing made her feel. She won her first gold medal at a School Athletics Championships when she was just eight years old.
Cathy Freeman was a member of the gold medal-winning 4x100m relay team at the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games, and in so doing became the first female Australian Aboriginal to win a gold medal at an international athletics event. She was awarded Young Australian of the Year in 1991 and a year later in Barcelona became the first Australian Aboriginal to represent Australia at an Olympic Games. Two years later, Cathy won gold in both the 200m and 400m at the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada. At the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996, she won silver with a personal best time of 48.63s in the 400m. She was crowned World Champion in the same event at the World Athletic Championships the following year, was awarded Australian of the year in 1998, and was again World Champion in the 400m in 1999.
Cathy's most notable achievement, however, came in 2000 at the Olympic Games in Sydney. Her image was beamed into millions of homes around the world when she became the first competing athlete to be invited to light the Olympic flame at the opening ceremony. She then went on to win the gold medal in the 400m, realizing a life-long dream.
Current Work:
From 2007 to 2021 was Co-Founder and Director of the Cathy Freeman Foundation which focuses on supporting Indigenous children to experience their potential in school and beyond and realize their dreams. The vision of the Cathy Freeman Foundation is simple but ambitious; to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with the best education outcomes and optimal opportunities in life.
Video
Cathy Freeman @SaxtonSpeakers Australia Speaks
Cathy Freeman is one of Australia's most admired and respected athletes: an Australian superstar and an Australian icon. As one of Australia's most popular high profile personalities, Catherine is recognised for her modesty, free spirit and passion for her family and country. An Olympic gold medallist, Cathy drew international attention to her achievements during her victory lap at the 1994 Commonwealth Games, where she proudly brandished both the Australia and Aboriginal flags. Four billion people watched Cathy light the Olympic cauldron at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, cementing her position on the world stage.Catherine was absolutely wonderful all day. Every Casey staff member that came in contact with her was impressed by her relaxed and down to earth personality. More importantly feedback from ... keep reading City of Casey
Catherine was fantastic, real and raw. Exactly what we wanted to see and perfect for our conference and tone.
Cathy was the perfect fit for our audience, lovely to work with and a privilege to engage with someone of such a genuine nature. Our audience were fully engaged and the whole series was a great success. Thank you.
Catherine Freeman was a warm spontaneous speaker who allowed us to share her journey. She is natural, unpretentious and a delight to listen too.
