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Journalism of Courage
For a few seconds before the start of the womens 400 metre race in the Sydney Olympics,Cathy Freeman witnessed the zone. In her mind,the roaring crowds suddenly turned mute,the expectations disappeared and the weight of a nation lifted off her shoulders. The sound of the gunshot brought it all back to life. 49.11 seconds and a gold medal later by her own admission Australia would never be the same again.
Apart from becoming an icon and a household name,Freeman believes that ever since 2000,she is viewed through several lenses as a sports legend,a winner,a fighter for indigenous rights,the Catherine Freeman Foundation runner and a proud Australian. In the Capital as a brand ambassador for the Delhi half marathon,Freeman showed glimpses of each of these personalities while reliving her greatest moments on the track.
Winning in Sydney still surprises me everyday. Its almost like it happened last night or two weeks back, Freeman says. I remember not hearing a thing before the gun went off, she adds. When there were only 80 metres to the finish line,I could not feel the ground beneath my feet. It felt like the crowd was carrying me through it. I was overwhelmed and very aware of the entire spectacle.
Freeman also recalled the honour of lighting the Olympic cauldron. I broke down before the event for two minutes,absolutely overwhelmed, she says.
No formula for winning
Programmed to win since she was a child,Freeman says there is no formula to the art of winning,only the will to do so. Since I was five I was expected to achieve everything I did. It begins with a childs dream to excel, she says,adding,As an indigenous woman I inherited the outdoors. Its partly a science to win,but it is also a birthright. Maybe I won because I feel happiest when Im running.
Having participated at the Commonwealth Games in Canada in 1994,Freeman believes next years event will be successful because of individual performances. All it takes is a single spark or an individual moment to make the Games special. I believe that the CWG will be remembered for these moments rather than what has gone wrong during the build-up.
