- Sydney Olympics idol rarely steps out despite popularity
Aussie sporting icon Cathy Freeman will make a rare public appearance this weekend as the South Sydney Rabbitohs honour the legacy of the Olympic gold medallist during their Indigenous Round clash against Parramatta.
Freeman, 52, will ring the club’s legacy bell pre-game at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, with fellow Indigenous sporting great and former Bunnies star Greg Inglis to then lead the team onto the field.
It comes after the hero of the 2000 Sydney Games joined the Rabbitohs in the sheds following their historic 2014 grand final triumph.
At the time, Freeman shared a photo with Inglis, which she labelled ‘the best sporting moment of my life’.
Footy fans in the Harbour City are in for a treat this weekend as the Moore Park venue hosts four games across three days, including one NRLW fixture, as part of the NRL’s Gadhu Gathering.
Besides looking to avoid the wooden spoon, South Sydney will be motivated given their NRL squad features 11 Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander players.
Aussie sporting icon Cathy Freeman will make a rare public appearance this weekend as the South Sydney Rabbitohs honour the legacy of the Olympic gold medallist
Freeman (pictured at the 2000 Games) will ring the club’s legacy bell pre-game at Allianz Stadium in Sydney
It comes after Freeman was pictured with Greg Inglis when she joined the Rabbitohs in the sheds following their historic 2014 grand final triumph (above)
One is rising backrower Tallis Duncan, who was born two years after Freeman’s iconic victory in the 400m final at Sydney Olympic Park.
‘I’ve only seen her on murals and in YouTube videos, so she’s definitely someone I look forward to meeting,’ he said this week.
‘To be able to be run out by ‘GI’ (Inglis) and to have Cathy ring the bell… it’s pretty cool. I (also) reckon it was pretty amazing what she (Freeman) did.’
In June, Freeman announced she was starring in a music video with an Aussie rapper, which gave her a feeling of ‘deep cultural pride’.
Freeman told her Instagram followers she was poised to appear in the clip with Nooky, an Indigenous hip-hop star who hails from the NSW south coast.
It followed a turbulent time in Freeman’s private life, after splitting from her husband of 15 years James Murch in August last year.
They released a joint statement announcing they were parting ways and will continue co-parenting their daughter Ruby.
‘After 15 years of marriage we have unfortunately separated. We continue co-parenting and this is our greatest priority,’ the statement read.
Freeman captivated the nation 25 years ago as she lit the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony in Sydney – before overcoming immense expectation to snare gold on the track as Australia – and the world – watched on.
