Cathy Freeman: Australian history-maker

Beinsports-AU

In 1997 Cathy Freeman became Australia's first female World Athletics championship champion, taking out the 400 metres ahead of a stacked field. It would be the first of Freeman's world titles in a stunning career that culminated in an Olympic gold medal three years later on home soil in 2000.

Transcript

00:00 (upbeat music)

00:02 In 1997, Cathy Freeman made history

00:17 by becoming Australia's first indigenous world champion.

00:21 Despite losing just once in the run up to Athens,

00:25 her season had been fraught with issues off the track.

00:28 Never more comfortable than when racing,

00:30 Freeman eased her way into the final,

00:32 only to find herself in the inside lane

00:35 against a high caliber field,

00:37 including the 1993 champion, Joe Miles-Clark,

00:40 and the world indoor champion, Sandy Richards.

00:44 - Everywhere.

00:45 - All the way cleanly, first time.

00:49 Good start made by Cathy Freeman on the inside.

00:51 But not much to choose between this very closely matched

00:54 field.

00:56 As we look at Ogan Koya, then Joe Miles-Clark,

00:59 but look at Britt Breuer,

01:00 in the white vest of Germany out there.

01:01 She, I think, has got a marginal lead.

01:03 Still Britt Breuer as they come into the home straight.

01:06 Just inside her is Sandy Richards,

01:08 then Miles-Clark, Ogan Koya.

01:09 They're almost in alignment.

01:10 Freeman now on the inside.

01:11 Freeman is coming through and charging down the home straight.

01:14 Freeman it is who leads.

01:15 She's got Ogan Koya in three, Miles-Clark in four.

01:18 Sandy Richards finishing very fast indeed.

01:20 Freeman, Richards, has she done enough?

01:22 No, Freeman takes it on the line

01:24 from Sandy Richards in third place.

01:27 Cathy Freeman has become the first Australian woman

01:31 to win a world title.

01:32 (upbeat music)

01:35 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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