Olympic 400m champion and Indigenous campaigner Cathy Freeman receives Australia’s highest honor

Olympic Icon Cathy Freeman Receives Australia’s Highest Civil Honor

Cathy Freeman, who captivated the nation and the world when she won gold in the women’s 400 meters at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, has been awarded Australia’s highest civil honor in recognition of her athletic achievements and ongoing social impact.

The 53-year-old Freeman has been made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) as part of the annual honors list commemorating Australia Day. The prestigious recognition celebrates her extraordinary contributions to athletics, her significant social impact across the country, and her role as a mentor to Australian youth.

“I set out to be the best athlete that I could be for myself and then all of a sudden, this whole world unfolded right before my very eyes, and it just continues to expand, and it continues to be a wild ride, let me tell ya!” Freeman told the Sydney Morning Herald on Monday.

Freeman’s Olympic victory in 2000 remains one of Australia’s most iconic sporting moments. Competing in a distinctive hooded, skin-tight running suit, she not only claimed gold but also sparked discussion when she took her victory lap carrying both the Australian flag and the flag representing Australia’s First Nations peoples.

The dual flag celebration highlighted Freeman’s proud Indigenous heritage and her commitment to reconciliation – themes that have defined much of her work beyond athletics. As the first Indigenous Australian to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal at just 16 years old in 1990, Freeman’s career has consistently broken barriers and challenged perceptions.

Her athletic resume is extraordinary, featuring four Commonwealth Games gold medals and world championships in the 400 meters in both 1997 and 1999. Yet her impact extends far beyond the track.

In 2007, Freeman established the Cathy Freeman Foundation, later renamed the Community Spirit Foundation. The organization focuses on supporting educational opportunities for Indigenous children in remote communities, addressing one of the persistent challenges facing Australia’s First Nations peoples.

This new honor appears to have prompted reflection for Freeman, who suggests it signals a new chapter in her already remarkable journey.

“It’s so grown up, it’s so formal, it’s so serious. The responsibility that comes with it… this is a serious honor. So, geez, I’ve got to be serious. I’m 53, so I think I should be conducting myself with a little bit more seriousness, anyway,” she said.

Freeman’s recognition comes at a time when Australia continues to grapple with issues of reconciliation and Indigenous rights. Her consistent advocacy has helped maintain focus on these challenges, using her platform to highlight inequalities while celebrating Indigenous culture and achievement.

She was one of ten recipients of the Companion of the Order of Australia this year, with half of those honored being women – a noteworthy step toward gender parity in a system that has historically recognized more men than women.

Freeman’s honor reflects not just her athletic prowess but her evolution into a respected elder stateswoman in Australian public life. From teenage Commonwealth Games champion to Olympic gold medalist to social advocate, her journey embodies resilience and purposeful commitment to positive change.

For many Australians, the image of Freeman in her hooded suit, crossing the finish line in Sydney’s Olympic Stadium, remains a defining national moment – a celebration of excellence, determination and the possibility of a more inclusive future. This latest honor confirms her status not just as a sporting legend, but as one of Australia’s most significant and influential contemporary figures.