Good morning,

Have to say that I was a bit sad at seeing the Olympics over! But, what
beautiful clips we were shown at the end, huh? The great moments of Cathy
lighting the cauldron and her 400m win! She is just it! Gonna be searching
the internet for any news of her upcoming races. If I do find anything, I
will let you know. Until then, here is a fun read and a pic of Cathy.

Hope you enjoy it as I did.
Rhanyel

From Nike Melbourne Track Club, a question and answer session with them and
Cathy Freeman.

General Interests

Training partners: Pat Seal, Jason Richardson, Cameron MacKenzie and Mark
Moresi

Greatest influence on career: Parents

Role model as a child: Raelene Boyle, Carl Lewis and Flo-Jo

Role model now: Raelene Boyle and Carl Lewis

Do you have any pets? Frankie the dog

What do you say to people who take performance enhancing drugs? Taking drugs
to me is like taking a short cut - it’s cheating

Which cartoon character best sums up your character? Probably the Road
Runner because he moves very fast and doesn’t particularly do a lot of
talking. His legs do the talking for him

If your home was on fire what would you save first? My dog, definitely

Your dream career outside athletics? To be in an influential position in the
media or television industry

If you were told you had a minute to live, what would you do? Be on the
telephone to my mother

Your favourite smell? Red roses

What makes you depressed? Injustices, war and lack of respect for each other

What is under-rated in this world? Peace!

What is the important lesson life has taught you? Life is what you make it!

What do you eat that you know you shouldn’t? McDonalds and desserts, but
very rarely do I eat this of course!

Tell us about your first date. I was too scared to go on my own, so I took,
or rather dragged a friend along with us

Favourites

Favourite nightspot: Heat nighclub

Favourite food: Pasta, Japanese, Italian, Mexican, Seafood

Favourite drink: Water

Favourite TV show: Quantum Leap

Favourite movie: Crimson Tide

Favourite sport (apart from athletics): AFL football

Favourite holiday spot: Broome - W.A.

Favourite athletic track: Monte Carlo

Favourite music: Tiddas, Live, Third Eye Blind, Everclear, Midnight Oil,
Hoodoo Gurus, Savage Garden, etc.

Least Favourites

Food: Steak

Drink: Rum

Sport: Boxing

Athletic track: Williamstown

Band: Green Day

Athletics

How/When did you first become involved in athletics? My first race was when
I was 6, in grade 1 in Mackay, QLD. My teacher told me to run so I did!

What made you become involved in athletics? I really enjoyed it, and
winning was so much fun too!!!

When did you realise you had a special talent? My Stepfather told me when I
was 10 years old that I was one day going to be running in the Olympics

What made you decide to choose your particular events? I ran the 100 metres
because it was the shortest, and all 100 metre runners run the 200 metres as
well. I moved up to the 400m in 1992 because I am much better suited to it
physically

How often do you train? Twice a day except on Sunday and my full rest day
is Saturday

What does training generally involve? Track work, hill work, weight work,
circuit work, plyometric work

Do you have to adhere to a special diet? What does this include? I don’t
have a special diet. I eat very sensibly. A lot of protein, and low fat
eating habits are ideal. I don’t eat a lot of bread, rice or pasta. Water
based foods are excellent

What are your greatest triumphs/highlights on an athletic track? (1) Olympic
Silver at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta for the 400m. (2) Winning a World
Championship title for the 400m in 1997

What is your greatest disappointment on an athletic track? 1995 World
Championships when I placed 4th in Gothenburg, Sweden. I was terribly
disappointed because I thought I could win

At which stadium do you most enjoy competing? Monte Carlo is palatial, a
very grand stadium, very pretty to look at. The actual surface is very well
maintained too

Do you have a pre-race routine? Usually I like to have an hour's nap before
I go to the track, leaving an hour to prepare and to properly wake up. I get
to the track with about 1½ - 2 hours before warming up. I warm up 1½ hours
before the start of the race. I like to eat 3 hours before

Do you have any pre-race superstitions? Absolutely not !

What was your most embarrassing moment on an athletics track? I dead-heated
with another competitor. I threw myself at the finish line way too soon,
causing me to go flying through the air, landing on my stomach. I got slight
concussion and could hear the crowd go, "Ahhhh!!!!"

Of all the athletic meets you have competed at, what has been your most
memorable moment? Definitely 1996 Olympics in Atlanta

Who do you consider to be your toughest competitors? Marie Jose Perec,
Marion Jones, Gwen Torrence

What is the best thing about being an athlete? The general well being
especially physically which results in a high self esteem. The travel is
fantastic also

What are your goals for the future? Better personal bests for the 100m,
200m and 400m. 1999 World Champion, 2000 Olympic Champion

What are your immediate goals? Improve on my shorter distance.
Concentrating on getting back pure explosive speed

Fives

What 5 people would you invite to a dinner party? Peter Garrett, KD Lang,
Whoopi Goldberg, Michael Jordan, Bryan Brown

Which people would you least like to invite to a dinner party? Saddam
Hussein, Pauline Hanson

What 5 words best describe you? Honest, Free-spirited, Determined,
Courageous, Loving

What things don’t people know about you? I’m stubborn, I know how to play
the organ, I know enough karate to defend myself, I went to over 10 schools

Which 5 athletes do you most admire? Carl Lewis, Nadia Comenici, Dawn
Fraser, Ron Clarke, Raelene Boyle

Which 5 things do you enjoy doing the most? Horse riding, dancing,
running/training (most days), being with family, friends and Frankie,
travelling

Nike Melbourne Track Club

What do you perceive as the major benefits of the MTC? The pressure is off
me in terms of responding to the demands of being Cathy Freeman. MTC takes
care of all the paperwork that comes with responding to requests and invites,
eg. Fanmail. Also, along with the other athletes, we share the media spotlight

Is the MTC a positive step towards professionalism of athletics?
Definitely, because the whole concept of MTC is about putting athletics in a
position that is healthy and prosperous. Concentrating on grass roots through
to the elite level, athletic achievements are shown to the public in a more
professional way

Best thing about being part of MTC? Being part of a team for a change.
Having fellow club members and a back up support group makes life better and
more enjoyable !!!

What does MTC do for you as an athlete? Definitely saves me time and
effort. MTC makes my responsibility, which is solely to be the best athlete I
can be much easier than before

Sydney 2000

How much pressure is there to perform well at the Sydney Olympics? A
tremendous amount, especially the pressure I feel from within myself. I will
however, deal with it, and deal with it well

Are athletes already turning their focus onto these Games? Definitely.
Everything up until then is pretty important, both physically and mentally
for Aussie 2000 Olympians

What do you see as the major benefit of holding the Olympics in Australia?
The opportunity for this country to show just how great we are

Injuries

Have you had any serious injuries? No, thank God. I’ve had niggles though.
A strained calf was my most serious injury

Did you have confidence that you could return bigger and better than ever?
I become very frustrated when I can’t train so I learn patience. After
recovering, I continue much more enthusiastically to do well

How long did the injury/s put you out of action? I couldn’t run for a week,
which really is nothing, although it doesn’t feel like that at the time