Hi!
I've just found new and very nice article.
Oh and by the way...
Maybe you don't know but if you want to find news about Cathy you
don't have to check all newspapers separately site by site.
I recommend www.wn.com for searching news about Cathy. 'World News'
searches for news and aritcles in main newspapers and news agencies
from around the world (including Australia).
Just type 'Cathy Freeman' and click 'Go!'

Here's the text:

Cathy comes home to cheers of a city

MACKAY
Tuesday 24 October 2000

Olympic champion Cathy Freeman returned to Mackay yesterday to share
her Olympic triumph with her home town.

"I have never made any secret of the pride I have in myself," the 400-
metre gold medallist said at a welcome by about 2000 people, mostly
schoolchildren, during her first visit to Mackay since the Sydney
Olympics. "Part of being who I am is knowing where I came from, so it
was not really just me who won the gold medal, it was you," she said.

Freeman began her running career at the age of 11 in Mackay on an
oval now renamed in her honor. Her brief speech brought cheers from
the crowd, who initially were disappointed when Freeman apologised
because she had "forgotten" to bring along her gold medal.

Moments later the medal appeared, to loud cheers.

Freeman presented autographed sheets of commemorative stamps issued
after her victory to representatives of 33 schools throughout the
district, and later signed autographs.

She said later that she had had no trouble coming down from the
euphoria of the Olympic victory, but was a little tired from all the
attention.

The visit, she said, was her way of thanking everyone for their
support. "I didn't know what to expect," she said. "It's a little
overwhelming."

Freeman said she planned to catch up with family and friends during
her visit and "just relax with no deadlines".

Mackay Mayor Julie Boyd said the people of the city were proud of her
extraordinary achievements. "We want to tell you how you brought us
to our feet on the evening of September 25, how we held our breath in
anticipation of your spectacular win," she said.

"And how we were all silenced by the look of relief and quiet joy
that washed over your face as you huddled down on the track at the
finishing line."

AAP

The article is from: www.theage.com.au

Madi