Latest news with #CathyFreeman
Sydney Morning Herald
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘I'm emotionally attached to the Rabbitohs': Freeman to fire up Souths for Indigenous Round
Olympic legend Cathy Freeman has never met Latrell Mitchell but admires the way the Rabbitohs star 'represents his family and community and culture', and is inspiring the next generation of Indigenous sports stars. The 400m gold medallist from the 2000 Sydney Games also recalled being intimidated by coach Michael Maguire when asked to address the South Sydney playing group before the 2014 grand final, and revealed winger Alex Johnston was the one player she feared taking on in a foot race. Freeman rarely gives media interviews, but spoke to this masthead as she joined Souths to help celebrate Indigenous Round on Saturday night. Freeman was asked to join Souths, who have no fewer than 11 Indigenous players in their line-up, having addressed the group the day before the 2014 grand final. She later appeared in a famous photo sitting next to the premiership trophy with Greg Inglis, who was due to lead the players onto the field for the game against Parramatta on Saturday. The two Bunnies Freeman was keenest to meet for the first time were Mitchell, one of the biggest Indigenous sports stars in the country, and coach Wayne Bennett. 'Wayne's a bit of a legend, isn't he?' Freeman said. 'And while I've never met Latrell, I love the way he competes, the way he represents his family and community and culture, and the way he's captured everyone's imagination. 'You also have to admire someone who uses their voice and stands up for what he believes in. That's never difficult to do if you are being true to who you are.'
The Age
15 hours ago
- Sport
- The Age
‘I'm emotionally attached to the Rabbitohs': Freeman to fire up Souths for Indigenous Round
Olympic legend Cathy Freeman has never met Latrell Mitchell but admires the way the Rabbitohs star 'represents his family and community and culture', and is inspiring the next generation of Indigenous sports stars. The 400m gold medallist from the 2000 Sydney Games also recalled being intimidated by coach Michael Maguire when asked to address the South Sydney playing group before the 2014 grand final, and revealed winger Alex Johnston was the one player she feared taking on in a foot race. Freeman rarely gives media interviews, but spoke to this masthead as she joined Souths to help celebrate Indigenous Round on Saturday night. Freeman was asked to join Souths, who have no fewer than 11 Indigenous players in their line-up, having addressed the group the day before the 2014 grand final. She later appeared in a famous photo sitting next to the premiership trophy with Greg Inglis, who was due to lead the players onto the field for the game against Parramatta on Saturday. The two Bunnies Freeman was keenest to meet for the first time were Mitchell, one of the biggest Indigenous sports stars in the country, and coach Wayne Bennett. 'Wayne's a bit of a legend, isn't he?' Freeman said. 'And while I've never met Latrell, I love the way he competes, the way he represents his family and community and culture, and the way he's captured everyone's imagination. 'You also have to admire someone who uses their voice and stands up for what he believes in. That's never difficult to do if you are being true to who you are.'
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Why sporting icon Cathy Freeman is set to make a rare public appearance in front of thousands of fans
Aussie sporting icon Cathy Freeman will make a rare public appearance this weekend as the South Sydney Rabbitohs honour the legacy of the Olympic gold medallist during their Indigenous Round clash against Parramatta. Freeman, 52, will ring the club's legacy bell pre-game at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, with fellow Indigenous sporting great and former Bunnies star Greg Inglis to then lead the team onto the field. It comes after the hero of the 2000 Sydney Games joined the Rabbitohs in the sheds following their historic 2014 grand final triumph. At the time, Freeman shared a photo with Inglis, which she labelled 'the best sporting moment of my life'. Footy fans in the Harbour City are in for a treat this weekend as the Moore Park venue hosts four games across three days, including one NRLW fixture, as part of the NRL 's Gadhu Gathering. Besides looking to avoid the wooden spoon, South Sydney will be motivated given their NRL squad features 11 Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander players. Freeman (pictured at the 2000 Games) will ring the club's legacy bell pre-game at Allianz Stadium in Sydney One is rising backrower Tallis Duncan, who was born two years after Freeman's iconic victory in the 400m final at Sydney Olympic Park. 'I've only seen her on murals and in YouTube videos, so she's definitely someone I look forward to meeting,' he said this week. 'To be able to be run out by 'GI' (Inglis) and to have Cathy ring the bell... it's pretty cool. I (also) reckon it was pretty amazing what she (Freeman) did.' In June, Freeman announced she was starring in a music video with an Aussie rapper, which gave her a feeling of 'deep cultural pride'. Freeman told her Instagram followers she was poised to appear in the clip with Nooky, an Indigenous hip-hop star who hails from the NSW south coast. It followed a turbulent time in Freeman's private life, after splitting from her husband of 15 years James Murch in August last year. They released a joint statement announcing they were parting ways and will continue co-parenting their daughter Ruby. 'After 15 years of marriage we have unfortunately separated. We continue co-parenting and this is our greatest priority,' the statement read. Freeman captivated the nation 25 years ago as she lit the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony in Sydney - before overcoming immense expectation to snare gold on the track as Australia - and the world - watched on.
The Australian
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Australian
NRL 2025: Cathy Freeman and Greg Inglis feature in special Rabbitohs moment
South Sydney forward Tallis Duncan wasn't born when Cathy Freeman won gold in 2000 in what is arguably the greatest moment in Australian sporting history, which is why he's pinching himself that he gets to meet her this weekend as part of the NRL's Gadhu Gathering at Allianz Stadium. Three matches will be played across three days as the game celebrates Indigenous Round, with the Rabbitohs to take on the Eels on Saturday night. Club legend Greg Inglis will lead the team onto the field, while Freeman will ring the club's legacy bell as they enter Allianz Stadium. The hero of the 2000 Sydney Olympics joined the Rabbitohs in the sheds after their 2014 grand final victory and shared a photo with Inglis at the time that she described as 'the best sporting moment of my life'. Greg Inglis and Cathy Freeman celebrated the 2014 premiership in the South Sydney sheds. Picture: Brett Costello 'It's one of those moments that you've got to pinch yourself because you're looking at an Indigenous Australian icon,' Duncan said on Monday, having been born two years after Freeman's golden run. 'I've only seen her on murals and walls and in YouTube videos, so that's something that's pretty special and makes you look at how far I've come on my journey to be able to be run out by 'GI' and to have Cathy ring the bell. It's pretty cool. '(Winning gold) is something you learn about growing up. You see the run and that was amazing, but then you learn a bit about what was behind it and there was a bit more going on than just the run. 'I reckon it was pretty amazing what she did, and she's definitely someone I look forward to seeing on the weekend.' Veteran Jack Wighton will miss the match through suspension and was clearly disappointed to not be involved in the culturally significant event. 'It's a little bit of salt in the wounds,' he said. 'I'm missing out on playing in this jersey and representing in such a great weekend with the three games, and then I hear Cathy and Greggy are leading the boys out. 'I asked if I could at least catch up and say hello. I've got to get a photo at least.' Inglis is doing incredible things in the community with his Goanna Academy and the Stick With It campaign, which comes as no surprise to Duncan, who is one of 11 Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander players in the South Sydney squad. 'I idolised him for every week but three when he played Origin for Queensland,' he said. 'He was amazing and was one of those players that you were in awe of when you watched them. 'Even though he played the same game, you felt he was on a different level to what you'd ever seen. He was one of the best players I saw growing up.' Wighton is only in his second year at the club but has embraced being a leader and has been amazed by the work the Souths Cares group does in the community. 'As an Indigenous person, but also as a senior player at this club, (I've embraced being a leader),' he said. 'We've been in a tough patch this year, so it's been a place where it's been tough to be a senior player, but it's also such an honour because you have so many young bright eyes and young superstars who just want to represent and do this club proud. 'To be a leader and see so many kids who want to make a difference (is great).'
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘An Indigenous Australian icon': Cathy Freeman and Greg Inglis to reunite for special event this weekend
South Sydney forward Tallis Duncan wasn't born when Cathy Freeman won gold in 2000 in what is arguably the greatest moment in Australian sporting history, which is why he's pinching himself that he gets to meet her this weekend as part of the NRL's Gadhu Gathering at Allianz Stadium. Three matches will be played across three days as the game celebrates Indigenous Round, with the Rabbitohs to take on the Eels on Saturday night. Club legend Greg Inglis will lead the team onto the field, while Freeman will ring the club's legacy bell as they enter Allianz Stadium. The hero of the 2000 Sydney Olympics joined the Rabbitohs in the sheds after their 2014 grand final victory and shared a photo with Inglis at the time that she described as 'the best sporting moment of my life'. 'It's one of those moments that you've got to pinch yourself because you're looking at an Indigenous Australian icon,' Duncan said on Monday, having been born two years after Freeman's golden run. 'I've only seen her on murals and walls and in YouTube videos, so that's something that's pretty special and makes you look at how far I've come on my journey to be able to be run out by 'GI' and to have Cathy ring the bell. It's pretty cool. '(Winning gold) is something you learn about growing up. You see the run and that was amazing, but then you learn a bit about what was behind it and there was a bit more going on than just the run. 'I reckon it was pretty amazing what she did, and she's definitely someone I look forward to seeing on the weekend.' Veteran Jack Wighton will miss the match through suspension and was clearly disappointed to not be involved in the culturally significant event. 'It's a little bit of salt in the wounds,' he said. 'I'm missing out on playing in this jersey and representing in such a great weekend with the three games, and then I hear Cathy and Greggy are leading the boys out. 'I asked if I could at least catch up and say hello. I've got to get a photo at least.' Proud to have 11 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander players in our full-time squad â�¤ï¸�🖤ðŸ'›ðŸ'šðŸ'™ðŸ¤� — South Sydney Rabbitohs ðŸ�° (@SSFCRABBITOHS) August 4, 2025 Inglis is doing incredible things in the community with his Goanna Academy and the Stick With It campaign, which comes as no surprise to Duncan, who is one of 11 Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander players in the South Sydney squad. 'I idolised him for every week but three when he played Origin for Queensland,' he said. 'He was amazing and was one of those players that you were in awe of when you watched them. 'Even though he played the same game, you felt he was on a different level to what you'd ever seen. He was one of the best players I saw growing up.' Wighton is only in his second year at the club but has embraced being a leader and has been amazed by the work the Souths Cares group does in the community. 'As an Indigenous person, but also as a senior player at this club, (I've embraced being a leader),' he said. 'We've been in a tough patch this year, so it's been a place where it's been tough to be a senior player, but it's also such an honour because you have so many young bright eyes and young superstars who just want to represent and do this club proud. 'To be a leader and see so many kids who want to make a difference (is great).'
