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Freeman to miss Australian Grand Prix season
Olympic super star Cathy Freeman, a two-time world champion in 1997 and 1998,
said last week she will miss the Australian Grand Prix season because she was
exhausted by her performances in 2000.
Freeman says she is looking forward to different types of challenges this
year with a planned return to competition at the Japan Grand Prix in May.
The Olympic 400 metres champion, who lit the Olympic cauldron at the opening
ceremony, said her life has been forever changed and that she was afraid that
her motivation might dwindle after realizing her dream of a gold medal.
"I always try to move through live as easily as I can," she said.
"I like to accept challenges and certainly this year will be a different type
of challenge after winning the gold.
"Life is never going to be the same again, I'm certainly a lot more content
within myself since winning an Olympic gold medal, because it's finally
achieving something I wanted so badly."
Freeman took three months off after the Sydney Games to recuperate.
"But my motivation certainly isn't lacking, I was a bit worried about that
aspect before," she said.
"When you work so hard so many years, and you see your long dream has come
true.
"It will be interesting to see how focused I can become. But the way I feel
now, I'm really relaxed and having a good time."
Freeman says last season took a big toll on her body.
"If I hadn't won the gold medal, I probably wouldn't have taken any time off
at all," she said.
Freeman will take part in about a dozen meets this year with her focus on a
hat-trick of world titles at the World Championships in Edmonton, in Canada,
this summer.
She has also revealed she is interested in moving up to the 800-metre
distance in the future.
"Within myself, I have a tendency to think more about moving up to the
800-metre," she said.
"Not this year, nor next year, but it could be within the next eight years or
so, we'll just see what happens."
Freeman, 28 this month, will train most of the time in Melbourne this year
but has not ruled out the possibility of working out at John Smith's
"Handling Speed Intelligently" powerhouse of champions in Los Angeles.
"I don't rule it out entirely but at the same time I'm happy to stay in
Australia as long as I can," she said.
"My plans as they are at the moment aren't definite."
"I have a good relationship with HIS, but there was never any formal or
official agreement.
"I just have so much respect for that group and for John Smith.
"I certainly hope that the door is still open for me."
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