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Cathy Freeman is a former Australian sprinter and Olympic medallist, who specialised in the 400 metres event. Freeman was born February 16, 1973 in Mackay, Queensland. Freeman's mother Cecelia was born in the Aboriginal community on Palm Island. She began athletics at a young age and in 1987 she won a scholarship to Fairholme School, before moving on to Kooralbyn International School to be coached professionally by Mike Danila. In 1990, Freeman was chosen as a member of Australia's 4×100m relay team for the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand. The team won the gold medal, making Freeman the first ever Australian Aboriginal Commonwealth Games gold medallist, as well as one of the youngest, at 16-years-old. At the 1994 Commonwealth Games she won the 200 and 400 metre gold medals, and the Atlanta 1996 Games she became the first Aboriginal Olympic medallist, by finishing second to Marie-Jose Perec in the 400m. After that she won back-to-back world championships over the distance in 1997 and 1999. In 1990 she was chosen as the Young Australian of the Year and in 1998 Australian of the Year, becoming the first person to receive both awards. At the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, Freeman lit the cauldron in the Olympic Stadium after the torch had been handled by six Australian women, who had between them won 15 gold medals. She then went on to win the gold medal in the 400m, fulfilling her childhood dream of winning gold for the 400 metres. Freeman announced her retirement from athletics in 2003. Since retiring Freeman has become involved in a range of community and charitable activities. She is an Ambassador of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation. In 2009 Cathy Freeman was inducted into the Queensland Sport Hall of Fame. 


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