The Catherine Freeman Foundation

Q & A

How early did you start running?- when I was eight years old
Why did you start running? – it made me happy. I felt free
How old were you when you first went to boarding school? – I was 12 years old
What is your greatest achievement? – when things got hard I kept my focus and didn’t give up. *What are your parents names?*– Cecelia is my mother, Norman is my father and Bruce (blue eyes) is my stepfather.
How many brothers and sisters do you have and what are their names? – three brothers, Gavin, Norman and Garth and one sister, Ann Marie (who passed away from cerebal palsy in 1990)
Do you have any pets? – yes, 2 cats whom I adore. Billy and Jazz.
What is your favourite food? – steamed fish and vegetables.
Do you have any tatoos? – I have 3, a rose on my ankle, a green frog on my foot and ‘Cos I’m free” on my upper arm.
What other sports did you compete in? – I have competed in karate, netball and highjump.
How did you get to Olympic standard? – I focused, found the right team to help me, and trained really hard.
What does hero mean to you? – hero” to me means someone who’s an inspiration and who teaches me that i have potential beyond my wildest imagination. The main qualities that a hero show are pride and honesty. My personal heroes are my sister, my parents, and mother Theresa. I wouldn’t classify myself as a hero. As a child my heroes were my parents.The people who really believed in me when i was younger were my parents.
Who is your sporting hero? – Debbie Flintoff King
What is your goal now that you are retired? – my new gold medal is the Catherine Freeman Foundation. We create pathways for a brighter future, with a focus on education for indigenous girls.
You have inspired many young people to achieve their goals, what, or who inspired you? – my parents and my late sister were the first to inspire me. I am inspired by so many people everyday and from all walks of life. I enjoy learning from those from the past who are no longer alive, as well As from people who are fortunate enough to have their inspiring stories in tomorrows newspapers.
What did it feel like when you won your first Olympic medal? I was very incredibly happy but more than anything i was relieved!