Why cathy freeman is a hero

She attracts both press criticism and public disapproval for a cultural pride many feel should be kept undercover. I would love to one day go out to the bush and spend time with the elders of my culture, and get back to my roots," she said.

The negative feedback does not appear to be discouraging her demonstrations of Aboriginal pride in any way. Following her meter victory at the World Championships, she repeated her action. But in , Cathy was named Australian of the Year, one of the biggest civilian honours in Australia. In she had been awarded Young Australian of the Year, making her the only person ever to be awarded both honors.

Perhaps related, it was the Australian, not Aboriginal, flag she carried on her victory lap after retaining her title in the World Championships. She was later selected by Australia to light the Olympic Cauldron. After lighting the torch, Cathy was quoted as saying "Much is made about me being an Aboriginal. This fact should be celebrated, not abused. Rendezview Don't miss out on the headlines from Rendezview.

Join the conversation. Add your comment to this story To join the conversation, please log in. Register Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout. More related stories. By then, she had already won national titles in high jump, and the , and metre sprints. She won her first gold medal in the 4 by metre relay at the Commonwealth Games when she was just sixteen years old. At the , Commonwealth Games Cathy caused controversy by carrying the Aboriginal flag as well as the Australian national flag during her victory lap of the metres sprint.

At that time the flag was not recognised as an official Australian flag. Throughout her athletic career Cathy has received numerous awards including the Olympic Order for Sportswoman of the Year in , and was named Australian of the Year in By going to school, I was able to recognise my potential as an athlete and fulfil my dream of achieving Olympic gold," she says on her website.

I believe education is the key to a positive pathway. These days, the former sprinter is living a much more low-key life. Cathy along with her husband James Murch and their daughter Ruby born in reside in Melbourne. Due to coronavirus stage four lockdown regulations in September , she was unable to travel to Sydney for the 20th anniversary of the games. Cathy and her husband James Murch in The ex-athlete was previously married to Alexander 'Sandy' Bodecker from until She also dated actor Joel Edgerton for three years in between her marriages.