Latest news with #SydneyGames
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘I'm emotionally attached to the Rabbitohs': Freeman fires 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.'
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days 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
3 days 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.'
7NEWS
23-06-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Australian Olympic gold medallist Chloe Dalton forced to retire from sport after back surgery
With a sporting career inspired by Cathy Freeman, fellow Olympic gold medallist and multi-sports star Chloe Dalton has been forced to retire due a back injury. Part of the champion women's sevens rugby team at the 2016 Rio Games, Dalton also played AFLW for both Carlton and GWS over seven seasons, running out for 32 games. Demonstrating her versatility and skill, she also played in the WNBL before switching her focus to rugby sevens. Requiring back surgery after an injury ended her 2024 season with the Giants, Dalton said she's failed to recover sufficiently to resume her career. 'Retired. After a second back surgery nine months ago, my body hasn't bounced back to the point where I can play footy again,' the 31-year-old posted on social media. 'It's been a tricky process trying to come to terms with the fact that my sporting career has finished through injury.' Loading Instagram Post Dalton posted a series of photos and told the story of her sporting journey; how she was determined to win an Olympic gold medal after watching Freeman's triumph at the Sydney Games. When realising she wasn't good enough to make the Australian basketball team she set her sights on sevens. 'I went onto Google and typed in lists of Olympic sports,' Dalton wrote. 'Rugby sevens would be in the Olympics for the first time in 2016. I had just 2.5 years to learn how to play rugby and secure myself a ticket on that plane to Rio. '... That seven-year-old girl got to stand on the podium and have her very own Olympic gold medal put around her neck.' Dalton said that she then saw AFLW on television and, although she didn't know the rules, wanted to play. Joining the Blues in 2018, she was part of Carlton's grand final team a year later. She decided to switch back to sevens to compete at the Tokyo Olympics but shattered her cheekbone four weeks out from the Games. After launching The Female Athlete Project, which is a platform to highlight the sporting achievements of women, she then resumed her AFLW career with GWS but injuries restricted her to just 16 games across four seasons. Dalton became a mother with partner Riley giving birth to son Fred last November. ''What's next' seems to be the question people ask when you say you're retiring,' she wrote. 'Number one is being a mum to Fred with Riles. He is my greatest joy.' After announcing her retirement the Giants congratulated Dalton her achievements and contribution. 'Chloe's impact both on and off the field for the Giants has been profound and she'll leave a lasting legacy with her teammates, coaches and staff,' GWS women's football boss Alison Zell said.
Perth Now
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Dalton's stellar sports career dimmed by back injury
With a sporting career inspired by Cathy Freeman, fellow Olympic gold medallist and multi-sports star Chloe Dalton has been forced to retire due a back injury. Part of the champion women's sevens rugby team at the 2016 Rio Games, Dalton also played AFLW for both Carlton and GWS over seven seasons, running out for 32 games. Demonstrating her versatility and skill, she also played in the WNBL before switching her focus to rugby sevens. Requiring back surgery after an injury ended her 2024 season with the Giants, Dalton said she's failed to recover sufficiently to resume her career. "Retired. After a second back surgery nine months ago, my body hasn't bounced back to the point where I can play footy again," the 31-year-old posted on social media. "It's been a tricky process trying to come to terms with the fact that my sporting career has finished through injury." Dalton posted a series of photos and told the story of her sporting journey; how she was determined to win an Olympic gold medal after watching Freeman's triumph at the Sydney Games. When realising she wasn't good enough to make the Australian basketball team she set her sights on sevens. "I went onto Google and typed in lists of Olympic sports," Dalton wrote. "Rugby sevens would be in the Olympics for the first time in 2016. I had just 2.5 years to learn how to play rugby and secure myself a ticket on that plane to Rio. "... That seven year old girl got to stand on the podium and have her very own Olympic gold medal put around her neck." Dalton said that she then saw AFLW on television and, although she didn't know the rules, wanted to play. Joining the Blues in 2018, she was part of Carlton's grand final team a year later. She decided to switch back to sevens to compete at the Tokyo Olympics but shattered her cheekbone four weeks out from the Games. After launching The Female Athlete Project, which is a platform to highlight the sporting achievements of women, she then resumed her AFLW career with GWS but injuries restricted her to just 16 games across four seasons. After announcing her retirement the Giants congratulated Dalton her achievements and contribution. "Chloe's impact both on and off the field for the Giants has been profound and she'll leave a lasting legacy with her teammates, coaches and staff," GWS women's football boss Alison Zell said.
