Cathy+Freeman

__Cathy Freeman __  __By An Hong __ Catherine Astrid Salome Freeman is a world champion Olympic Australian Aboriginal sprinter. She specialises in running 400m races. Cathy was one of the many athletes who participated in the historical Olympic Games.

Cathy Freeman was born at Slade Point, Mackay, Queensland in 16 February 1973. She had three brothers and one sister. Cathy's parents separated and her mother remarried a man who later became Cathy's first coach.

During her childhood, racist Australian whites were discriminating indigenous people. Life was hard for Cathy but she had the courage and strength to compete in races against white opponents. It was difficult to train to become a multiple-award winning Olympic champion. It was not easy for a member of Australia's indigenous community to not feel pressured by participating in a nation sport as well as representing both Australian communities.

As Cathy grew up, she competed and won many races, showing promise as a gifted runner. She achieved a number of regional and national titles in the 100 metres, 200 metres and high jump Cathy got a scholarship and attended Kooralbyn International School to be coached professionally by Romanian Mike Danila.

By the time she was old enough to compete in national races, Cathy attended the 1990 Commonwealth Games where she won a gold medal in the 4 x 100 metres relay team. She received national attention and became the first female Aboriginal to win a gold medal at an international athletics event as well as being one of the youngest gold medallists.

In 1992, at the Barcelona Olympics, Cathy Freeman participated in the 400 metres event. She became the first Australian Aboriginal to represent Australia at an Olympics.

In the 1994 Commonwealth Games, Cathy won the 200 metres and 400 metres. She ran a lap of honour holding the Australian and Aboriginal flag in which her chief criticised and disapproved of. Nevertheless, Cathy repeated this and the Australian viewers enjoyed it.

At the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Cathy Freeman was given the honour of lighting the Olympic flame. Millions of viewers watched this momentous occasion in the Sydney Olympic Stadium. She then competed in the 200 metre race which then became the most significant race of her life as she made the record of having 49.11 seconds.

By mid-2003, Cathy Freeman announced her retirement. She created a charity called the Cathy Freeman Foundation where people can donate to help Aboriginal children who are in need.

Cathy Freeman was an Aboriginal athletic hero. She not only was an Olympic gold medallist, but she also brought unity for white and aboriginal Australians. Cathy Freeman made a difference to Australia.

__Bibliography-Harvard System __ Thomas, Ron. & Sydenham, Shirley. (August 2009) 'Catherine (Cathy) Freeman (1973 - )' [Online]. __CATHY FREEMAN__ http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/freemancathy.htm [Accessed 14 February 2011] 'Cathy Freeman' [Online]. __Cathy Freeman: Biography from Answers.com__ http://www.answers.com/topic/cathy-freeman [Accessed 14 February 2011] 'Cathy Freeman' [Online]. __Cathy Freeman - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia__ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathy_Freeman [Accessed 11 February 2011] 'BIOGRAPHY' [Online]. __Cathy Freeman__ http://www.cathyfreeman.com.au/biography/ [Accessed 11 February 2011]