Cathy Freeman Aboriginal populations of Australia.

Cathy Freeman had the honour to light the Olympic flame at the opening ceremony of the Games. She symbolised the desire to reconcile the white and Aboriginal populations of Australia.

Ten days later, she won the 400m final which was a clear victory before an ecstatic crowd. Freeman's family was poor and, like many Australian Aboriginals, suffered discrimination from white Australians. Once, after winning many races at a primary school competition, Cathy, who wasn't given a trophy, had to watch as the white girls she had beaten received trophies.

Her family worked hard to raise the money Cathy needed to take her to competitions in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne.