Cathy Freeman Quotes

With Alexander's cancer, I was definitely brought to my knees for the first time because of the fear factor.

I took only twice a time-out, once, when I was hurt, and a second time, when I much felt I was exhausted out of personal reasons.

I have a friend who, if she has a bad hair day, it affects her whole mood because it is part of her sexuality, her confidence. I don't have that problem any more.

I made publicity contracts with Nike, several broadcasting companies and airline companies within Australia.

The last sort of really low-key race I ran, I realized with about a hundred metres to go, that my heart just wasn't in it. I wasn't trying my hardest, I didn't care to compete against the girls I was up against. That spoke a lot about where my heart was taking me-which was off the track.

I definitely do things on my terms, it may not seem that way but I actually do.

I don't like people looking at me; I hate the attention.

Realise there is always somebody else in the World who's not coping as well as you are.

Australians are a fantastic bunch of people but the attention can be overwhelming for someone like me.

I want to be a positive role model, especially for kids and Aboriginal people ... When people see me, often all they see is another Australian athlete having a go. It isn't until they see the full Cathy Freeman picture that they realise how proud I am of my ancestry and heritage. I'd like a little more tolerance and acceptance of my culture and all the differing cultures that make up Australia.

You got to try and reach for the stars or try and achieve the unreachable.

I'm certainly not ready to go changing the world overnight right now. I'm completely uninformed about a lot of our issues, a lot of the nation's issues, not just Indigenous issues.

I think the greatest amount of pressure is the pressure I place on myself. So in a way I chose to be alone.

Between 1991 and 1997 I had really serious asthma.

Asthma is treatable and well can be controlled.

I don't agree with everything Madonna's done but she is fearless.

I lie around the floor with my cats Billy and Jazz or watch DVDs with my best friends.

I am very determined and the sport is my passion. I believe I am born for running.

For athletes traditionally it's such a fantastic stepping stone to greater things down the track and in the future. Don't undermine the Commonwealth Games!

Being overseas at the time it all kind of happened was perfect because I had no idea that it was going to attract so much media attention and provoke these lovely people calling in and offering up their opinions and advice.

I felt so full of gratitude and humility that I clasped my hands in front of me, closed my eyes and said a silent prayer of thanks to God ... I had at last achieved something I'd wanted for so long ... My insides bubbled with happiness. It was a dream come true.

I have time to breathe, time to be myself more often, I am a lot more relaxed and less guarded.

The thing I do best is laugh.

When I'm in a bad mood, I don't listen.

When I was 18 years old, about to develop my sportsman career, the asthma complaints became already some years before.

I'm learning in my own sort of quiet, out-of-the-spotlight kind of way. I certainly have my general point of view about the government, and the future of our children. I'm certainly learning all the time, I'm happy to be an onlooker for now.

I don't have a lot of regrets in my life.

This occasion is personally very meaningful and I hope to visit Korea again if I have the chance.

I like being in the workforce; it keeps me grounded.

My last real race was at the Olympics in Sydney in 2000.

Disappointment and adversity can be catalysts for greatness. There's something particularly exciting about being the hunter, as opposed to the hunted. And that can make for powerful energy.

People could see in me who I am now, an Olympic champ, the best in the world.

I want to keep my private life private.

I'm drinking lots of herbal tea.

I do not have any official responsibilities related to the Australian Olympic Committee or the Federation of Athletic Associations since I am too busy with my private business.

Money makes life easier but I don't want to be rich, not at all.

I'll just let time happen. I don't have to articulate what may be or what may not be. I don't even do that to myself.

I made my first Australian senior team when I was 16, first Olympics when I was 19, and I retired. I'm 32, I retired four years ago, so a good third of my life or nearly a third of my life has been all about running.