Cathy Freeman

Name: Cathy Freeman
Occupation: Olympian

Cathy Freeman is a proud Australian indigenous Ku Ku Yalanji woman who is happiest following her heart - her family and helping Australian people. Currently, through her Management Team, Point 1, and the Catherine Freeman Foundation, she aims to raise awareness of key issues such as: indigenous education and health and pure performance (anti-doping) in sport. These issues are very important to Cathy.

Who was your role model/s when you were a teen?
My role models are my parents and my late sister. Throughout my life they¹ve always been my guides.

How did your role model/s help you?
My role models helped me by just being themselves as they led by example and through their existence I learnt lessons that still keep me on track (so to speak).

What role or influence do you think role models have?
The impact that role models have on each of us is varying however, the influence that my role models had on me is evident through not only the decisions and choices I make day to day, but in the way that I decide and choose my options.

What were some of the issues you faced as a teen?
As a teen I faced peer pressure to lose my virginity, take drugs and drink alcohol, and to ultimately drop my plans of being an Olympic champion in athletics. Other challenges I faced was the separation and divorce of my parents and sexual abuse.

How did you overcome these issues?
I overcame peer pressures by just listening to my parents and my coaches as I respected their collective wisdom and advice. With my parents divorce and my sexual abuse, I'm still working through those issues as I've had to reach out for professional help - counseling.

What do you remember most about being a teen?
As a teen I remember mainly that I was incredibly shy, placid and incredibly easy going.

What qualities do you think you possess that have helped you succeed in your chosen field?
To have succeeded as an Olympic gold medalist the greatest quality I have is undoubtedly patience - patience to listen and learn from others as well as yourself and your experiences. The other vital quality I have is acceptance. I accept the realities of life including my own weaknesses in order to be the best I can be!

Outside of career success, what is it that you are most proud of?
Outside of my running success I am most proud of the fact that I'm not prepared to let go of my family no matter how difficult it is sometimes.

Your advice to youths about realising their own potential...
My advice to anyone is the same as the advice I give myself - trust, respect and to love yourself!

Do you undertake activities to help others/community?
I work closely with many communities however; my greatest opportunity is my work through the Catherine Freeman Foundation. The focus of the Foundation is working with Indigenous girls and education in the community of Palm Island in Far North Queensland.

When it comes to how you live your life, what are the most important factors/values?
I live my life simply by just being true to myself and I do what my heart tells me. This ensures that I make judgments based on how I honestly feel about a situation, possibility or invitation. This often means not sitting in judgment of another individual.

Why do you think you make a good role model?
I make a good role model because I try to do the right thing as I hate wasting precious time doing something that I truly don't believe in!