"All I ever wanted to do was run" - The Catherine Freeman Journey

Jul 07, 2008

And run she did.  Catherine Freeman is a global sporting legend and an inspiration to all Australians.  No-one will ever forget the triumphant moment she won gold in the 400m at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

A new focus-display in the National Sports Museum, located inside the Melbourne Cricket Ground, will trace Catherine’s exceptional career, when her love of running blossomed after winning her first gold medal at school at the age of eight, through to her career on the international stage.

“All I ever wanted to do was run” – The Catherine Freeman Journey will bring together significant items from her running life, including childhood trophies, custom-made competition spikes that carry the Aboriginal and Australian flags, and the outfit she wore when lighting the Olympic cauldron.  Medals, running clothes, photos and travelling bags will also be on display.

The display will also reflect the next phase of Catherine’s life as founder and board member of the Catherine Freeman Foundation.  Established in 2007 to create educational opportunities to assist and inspire young indigenous Australians, the foundation is working on a number of projects including the facilitation of scholarships for young indigenous girls, anti truancy projects and the creation of a Knowledge Centre in Palm Island, Queensland.

What:   “All I ever wanted to do was run” – The Catherine Freeman Journey

When:   June 13 - September 30, 2008.

Time: 10am-5pm (varies on event days – see www.nsm.org.au for details)

Where:  National Sports Museum, Olympic Stand, MCG (Enter at Gate 3)

Cost:  Entry included as part of admission to National Sports Museum
 - Adults $15
 - Concession    $11
 - Children (aged 4-15 years) $8
 - Family (two adults and four children) $45

Media:  Please contact Katrina Hall (0421 153 046) for further details.

Funds raised during the staging of the Catherine Freeman Journey will be donated to the Catherine Freeman Foundation. www.catherinefreemanfoundation.com

The National Sports Museum is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Department of Health and Ageing.