Catherine Freeman, athlete, needs no introduction. Sydney 2000 ensured that. But once she retired, she shunned the track and, to a large extent, running. Now, she has been drawn back to what she used to know as “training”. By Len Johnson

I’m training four days a week. I was concerned about my mental health. When we lost Norman (her brother, Norman Freeman, died in a car crash in 2008), I was thinking I’ve got to be really aware here. I’m only too well aware of the pitfalls of sadness leading to depression.
Returning to training was a big change for me because I was so against it. I promised myself that I would never, ever train again.
I’ve realised I don’t need to have that same discipline that I had as an athlete, but I can still call it training.
As it turns out, I’m really loving it.
I was avoiding people, avoiding the sport, and it just wasn’t agreeing with me. Now I’ve just got back to who I actually am.
My passion outside my own private life is my family. We’ve had a challenging few months but it helps you get more clarity with what you want in life.
That’s why I’m even more passionate about the Catherine Freeman Foundation (catherinefreemanfoundation.com).

Catherine Freeman Foundation

We’re helping indigenous kids realize their potential. Our primary focus is on education but sport is also a big part of it, the overall wellbeing, incorporating sport and also life-skills and everything that comes with learning in a broader sense.
Palm Island was first because Mum (Cecelia) was born there 70 years ago. It’s almost soul-destroying, some of the stories that come out when you’re working so closely with the community.
It was a happy place then but now, it’s terrible.
It’s like a ghetto: there’s 80-90 per cent unemployment, governance issues, land ownership issues, social instability, crime, violence, alcohol and drug issues, sex abuse, the list goes on.
CFF is now going into its fourth year and it’s been an effort staying focused at times. I’ve come close to giving up – not that I ever set off with unrealistic expectations, you learn not to have that through sport – but I’ve come close at times to asking, ‘what do I think I’m doing, who do I think I am to change people’s attitudes.’
When you’re dealing in the indigenous space you come up against racism quite a lot.
It’s very different from the athletics world.

From the track to the conference room

(In athletics), you tend to fly solo. You have a coach, a manager and training partners, but when the gun goes you’re on your own. With this, you have to depend on others. You rely on others heavily – that was a massive change for me.
But I’m still aware of skills I’ve learned (through athletics) like patience, goal setting, respect and integrity.
I’m trying to maintain those same principles in a conference room, a field day, or a community day.
It’s more about a sense of giving, sharing and the joy of knowing you can actually help someone. You can make a difference. It starts by just being aware.

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