runner

Catherine (Cathy) Astrid Salome Freeman was born on 16th February in Mackay, Queensland. Catherine memories of her early childhood were ones of having a lot of fun running around and playing with her siblings and friends. From an early age she realised that she not only loved to run, but that she was good at it. She won her first gold medal at a school athletics championship when she was eight years old. Catherine Freeman's stepfather, Bruce Barber, coached her until Catherine Freeman's family did not have a lot of money and, like many Australian Aboriginals, suffered discrimination from white Australians It was when she was just a young girl that she began to dream about being the World’s greatest female athlete and being Olympic Champion. A dream that kept her focused on her training and helped her to go on to achieve her dream. Early life

Important Achievements Once, after winning many races at a primary school competition, Cathy, who wasn't given a trophy, had to watch as the white girls she had beaten received trophies. Her family worked hard to raise the money Cathy needed to take her to competitions in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne.

Cathy had the honour of lighting the Olympic flame at these games and won the 400 metres. In 1992 Cathy Freeman was chosen to compete at the Barcelona Olympics. Although she did not make it to the finals of her event, the 400 metres, she had become the first Australian Aboriginal to represent Australia at an Olympics