Cathy Freeman's 400-meter victory at the 2000 Sydney Olympics has been voted Australia's greatest sporting moment. Her win captured the nation's hearts and continues to inspire athletes today.
Sprinter Cathy Freeman does a lap of honour, carrying the Australian and Aboriginal flags, after winning gold in the women’s 400-metre final at the 2000 Sydney Olympic s. Cathy Freeman ’s 400-metre dash to gold while carrying the weight of a nation at the Sydney 2000 Olympic s has been voted the winner of the inaugural Guardian poll of Australia’s greatest sporting moments.
Freeman rose to the occasion on 25 September at the cusp of the new millennium, less than two weeks after she surprised onlookers by lighting the flame at the opening ceremony of the Games. That appearance built an already expectant country into a frenzy, ahead of a race that had been the subject of extensive conjecture in the lead-up. Freeman’s main rival was France’s Marie-José Pérec, the defending champion who was afflicted by injury and illness and had barely run a competitive race in the years leading up to the Games.In front of 110,000 fans in Stadium Australia, the then-27-year-old wore a full-body aerodynamic suit and ran a race to perfection to take gold over Jamaican Lorraine Fenton by just under a half second. More than 20 years later, the moment continues to have an impact on Australia and its athletes The usually reclusive Freeman visited the ahead of the 2023 World Cup. Captain Sam Kerr had declared the team wanted to create their own “Cathy Freeman moment” at the tournament. Less than a month later, the Matildas held the attention of the nation during the quarter-final against France. Vine’s penalty at the end of a marathon shootout secured a semi-final berth, and was regarded by Guardian readers as greater than every Australian sporting moment other than Freeman’s race
Olympic ATHLETICS AUSTRALIA CATHY FREEMAN SPORTS HISTORY
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Matthew Richardson Defects from Australia to Great Britain: Olympic Medallist Switches AllegianceOlympic medallist Matthew Richardson has shifted his allegiance from Australia to Great Britain, marking a significant turn in his cycling career. Richardson, born in England but raised in Australia, has faced a ban from representing Australia following his decision to compete for Great Britain. Despite the ban, he won two events at the UCI Track Champions League in Paris.
Read more »
Aths Australia ‘sorry’ as coach of Olympic gold medallists accused of years of abuse, groomingOlympics: One of the country's best pole-vaulting coaches allegedly preyed on some of Australia's most brilliant young female athletes.
Read more »
Swimming Australia Aims for Olympic Glory Through Technology and AISky News Business Reporter Edward Boyd interviews Swimming Australia’s General Manager Jessica Corones about the team's performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics and plans for the upcoming Los Angeles games, emphasizing the role of technology and artificial intelligence in boosting athlete performance.
Read more »
Australia news LIVE: Climate projections put Australia almost on target; Netanyahu backs ceasefire deal with HezbollahKeep up to date on the top stories from Australia and around the world with our live blog.
Read more »
Australia news LIVE: Climate projections put Australia almost on target; Netanyahu backs ceasefire deal with HezbollahKeep up to date on the top stories from Australia and around the world with our live blog.
Read more »
US Congressman Joe Courtney Receives Order of Australia for Advancing US-Australia AllianceKevin Rudd, representing the Albanese government, honored US Congressman Joe Courtney with an Order of Australia, recognizing his significant contributions to the US-Australia alliance and the AUKUS submarine pact.
Read more »