Cathy Freeman

Story Hotline

20 years ago she won the Olympic race that cemented her forever as one of Australia's national heroes... She's Cathy Freeman! *the crowd goes wild*
In this episode we're travelling back in time to the turn of the millennium to explore how Cathy became the icon she is today. Our story contains blood, sweat and tears, and a little bit of flimsy math to prove that no despite what we thought as children we are not actually as fast as an Olympic athlete.
Your heart is going to be warmed as you learn how a young child with a heart of (green and) gold was set on the path of success with encouragement from family and coaches. Cathy Freeman is the first Indigenous Australian to win a gold Olympic track medal and is forever our icon. We love you Cathy and spoiler alert: yes, everyone would still have loved you even if you lost!!!!!
Further watching/reading:

• Interview with Cathy Freeman and Mrs Baldry (the teacher who encouraged Cathy to run her FIRST race) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIGb6rP6CT4
• 1994 Victoria Commonwealth Games — Cathy wins GOLD in the 200m sprint https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEE7kW7AxmQ
• 1996 Atlanta Olympics — Cathy Freeman wins SILVER in the 400m Sprint Final against Marie-José Pérec https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSJegnvPv7M&t=308s
• 2000 Sydney Olympics — Cathy Freeman win's GOLD in the 400m Sprint Final https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTCnO5MXvoI
• FREEMAN Documentary (Australia link) https://iview.abc.net.au/show/freeman
• Born to Run by Cathy Freeman (2003) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15790011-born-to-run