Champ with a chunk of metal offers her inspiration


Champion experience ... Cathy Freeman went to Redfern yesterday to show
off her gold. Photo: Brendan Esposito


By TONY STEPHENS
7:01PM, Oct 02

The champion said she was still embarrassed that people cared about what
she had to say. She is a runner, not a talker.

Yesterday, however, was different. Cathy Freeman had gone to Redfern to
talk, not run, to play with the black kids round a basketball hoop and
to sign autographs. She had gone ''to do some positive things'' and,
perhaps, to offer inspiration. She had taken her gold medal.

The champion said she normally did not care for ''chunks of metal'' but
this chunk was different because she had dreamed about it since she was
a little girl.

Her husband, Sandy Bodecker, took the medal, with its blue ribbon, and
showed it to the children and their parents. Some touched it. Some wore
it around their own necks for a few moments, dreaming their own dreams.

Kalkani Choolba, 6, conducted her own medal ceremony. The champion
lowered her head for the child to place a wooden necklace round
Freeman's neck.

Freeman has visited Redfern before and had said that she wanted to
return, after finishing her Games business. Nike, sponsors of Freeman,
has been criticised for exploiting workers in third-world countries but
helped rebuild facilities at the Redfern Police Citizens Youth Club
after last year's hailstorms. Freeman took Nike caps for the kids.

Club officials asked the children not to mob their hero and the children
obeyed. Most, after all, were content simply to be in her presence.

Many were surprised that, at 157.5 centimetres, she was not much taller
than they were, and shorter than some boys and girls. The hero had
loomed much larger in their minds.

She patiently answered their questions, although some were lost for
words in her presence.

''It's still sinking in,'' she said of her Olympic experience. ''I'm
really happy, and really proud of myself.''

She had been embarrassed at being asked to light the cauldron and
concerned about slipping over in the water.

What about the morning of her big race, the 400 metres?

''Everybody did their best to make me feel very nervous. My mother and
family were driving me nuts. They were getting toey and very
sentimental, talking about my late father and sister and grandmother. I
told them to go away until after the race.''

There had been times chasing that childhood dream when she had not felt
up to it. ''I panicked. I felt really scared.''

And when the race was run and won?

''I felt the weight of the world came off my shoulders. I sat down on
the track because I wanted to feel normal. My life is not normal,
especially now.''

Freeman said of the chunk of metal: ''I try not to go crazy, but it's
something I can show my children and grandchildren, so they will believe
me.''

What about the hooded bodysuit?

''I don't like drawing attention to myself. I felt a little silly, but I
was so focused on running that I didn't care what I looked like. I could
have been wearing a tutu and high heels.''

What about the medal presentation?

''I was a bit distracted because I could see my mad family going nuts.
They had Aboriginal flags around their necks like superheroes.''

Embarrassed at being asked to leave a message for Aboriginal children,
Freeman tried one: ''There are lots of opportunities and heaps of people
who can help. It's really important to make the most of your
opportunities and don't be afraid to reach out for help.

''Have a goal. Life is too short. Deep down inside I never stopped
trying. I always believed I could do it. It's hard to be positive
sometimes, but try to believe in yourselves. OK?''

Kyra Kumsing presented her with gifts, including Kerrie Gilbert-Read's
book The Strength of Us Black Women, a little shirt for the baby they
hope she will have one day and a cap with the Aboriginal flag for the
American Bodecker.

The champion runner and the champion of her people sat down to sign
autographs, often across the golden sun of the flag.

''The Aboriginal community gets a kick out of me being around,'' she
said. ''I love to see the happiness in their eyes.''

The Sydney Morning Herald