Cathy Freeman
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Publicado: 15 de mayo de 2012
CATHY FREEMAN
The bold tattoo on her right triceps reads: “Cos I’m Free.” Her running shoes sport the bright red, black and yellow of her beloved Australian Aboriginal flag as she races acrossfinish lines and receives award upon award.
Cathy Freeman is proud of being a star athlete and prouder of being a native Australian.
As Australia’s first Aboriginal track and field athlete torepresent Australia at the Olympics (in 1992), Cathy, born February 16, 1973, has broken boundaries no one believed possible in a country riddled with deep-rooted racism against its own natives.Although her running career statistics read like a page out of that of any world- class athlete, she has still been met with a mix of controversy and praise thanks to her unbridled overt passion towards herheritage.
In a both genuinely heartfelt and bold gesture, at the 1994 Commonwealth Games, Cathy took her victory lap with the Aboriginal flag draped over her shoulders and then later added theAustralian flag. It was a public proclamation of Aboriginal rights and a powerful political statement.
Cathy told the New York Times, “The time will come when I can be more instrumental in politicsand Aboriginal affairs. But now, I think I’m playing a big part doing what I’m doing.”
She still remains the object of prejudice despite her talent and the glory her awards bring to Australia. Sheattracts both press criticism and public disapproval for a cultural pride many feel should be kept undercover. There was even an appeal for nominations as to whom the flag-bearer should be at theopening ceremony of the Sydney 2000 games and some wrote saying it shouldn’t be Cathy.
“I just wanted to show I am proud of who I am and where I come from. I would love to one day go out to the bushand spend time with the elders of my culture, and get back to my roots,” she said.
After lighting the torch, Cathy was quoted as saying “Much is made about me being an Aboriginal. This fact...
The bold tattoo on her right triceps reads: “Cos I’m Free.” Her running shoes sport the bright red, black and yellow of her beloved Australian Aboriginal flag as she races acrossfinish lines and receives award upon award.
Cathy Freeman is proud of being a star athlete and prouder of being a native Australian.
As Australia’s first Aboriginal track and field athlete torepresent Australia at the Olympics (in 1992), Cathy, born February 16, 1973, has broken boundaries no one believed possible in a country riddled with deep-rooted racism against its own natives.Although her running career statistics read like a page out of that of any world- class athlete, she has still been met with a mix of controversy and praise thanks to her unbridled overt passion towards herheritage.
In a both genuinely heartfelt and bold gesture, at the 1994 Commonwealth Games, Cathy took her victory lap with the Aboriginal flag draped over her shoulders and then later added theAustralian flag. It was a public proclamation of Aboriginal rights and a powerful political statement.
Cathy told the New York Times, “The time will come when I can be more instrumental in politicsand Aboriginal affairs. But now, I think I’m playing a big part doing what I’m doing.”
She still remains the object of prejudice despite her talent and the glory her awards bring to Australia. Sheattracts both press criticism and public disapproval for a cultural pride many feel should be kept undercover. There was even an appeal for nominations as to whom the flag-bearer should be at theopening ceremony of the Sydney 2000 games and some wrote saying it shouldn’t be Cathy.
“I just wanted to show I am proud of who I am and where I come from. I would love to one day go out to the bushand spend time with the elders of my culture, and get back to my roots,” she said.
After lighting the torch, Cathy was quoted as saying “Much is made about me being an Aboriginal. This fact...
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