I have been told many times that when I win I make my people proud to be Australian. I am Aboriginal, I am one of them and every time I win or am honoured like this it should be an example to Aboriginal people who may think they have nowhere to go but down. But more importantly I am an Australian and I would like to make all Australians feel proud to be Australian. Ours is a truly multicultural society and should be united as such. I would like to believe that my successes are celebrated by all Australians, bringing our nation together.
You got to try and reach for the stars or try and achieve the unreachable.
I want to be a positive role model, especially for kids and Aboriginal people... When people see me, often all they see is another Australian athlete having a go. It isn't until they see the full Cathy Freeman picture that they realise how proud I am of my ancestry and heritage. I'd like a little more tolerance and acceptance of my culture and all the differing cultures that make up Australia.
Twenty seconds before a race, there's absolute focus. The key thing is to achieve relaxation, but at the same to have absolute total control. You've got to find the balance between being totally ready to go and being really at peace with yourself as well.
Realise there is always somebody else in the World who's not coping as well as you are.
Disappointment and adversity can be catalysts for greatness. There's something particularly exciting about being the hunter, as opposed to the hunted. And that can make for powerful energy.
I like looking feminine and I enjoy being a role model. I enjoy being a woman. It all comes down to having the confidence to be who you are.
I am very determined and the sport is my passion. I believe I am born for running.
Peace, unity and harmony!
My story has resonated around the world. I am just Catherine, I just like to run. And I'll run with opportunities.
I think the greatest amount of pressure is the pressure I place on myself. So in a way I chose to be alone.
I was always surrounded by expectation from the very first race I ran as a 5-year-old.
I felt so full of gratitude and humility that I clasped my hands in front of me, closed my eyes and said a silent prayer of thanks to God... I had at last achieved something I'd wanted for so long... My insides bubbled with happiness. It was a dream come true.
I've had my fair share of being dismissed. But I'm only about to turn 30. And when I finish running, I'm going to be a dangerous woman.
My feelings tried to control me on my run. I had to concentrate fully on forthcoming running and success. I wanted to triumph.
Money makes life easier but I don't want to be rich, not at all.
I'm so lucky. I have such a great support system. All I have to do is run.
I made my first Australian senior team when I was 16, first Olympics when I was 19, and I retired. I'm 32, I retired four years ago, so a good third of my life or nearly a third of my life has been all about running.
I definitely do things on my terms, it may not seem that way but I actually do.
With Alexander's cancer, I was definitely brought to my knees for the first time because of the fear factor.
I'm doing something now where I'm going to have to learn so much and that takes time nurturing, those kinds of relationships.
I quite clearly have made the right decision in my heart, retirement was the way.
I'm learning in my own sort of quiet, out-of-the-spotlight kind of way. I certainly have my general point of view about the government, and the future of our children. I'm certainly learning all the time, I'm happy to be an onlooker for now.
I'll just let time happen. I don't have to articulate what may be or what may not be. I don't even do that to myself.
My mind is pretty made up that life for Cathy Freeman will be as an unmarried woman from now on.
