20 Years after Sydney, Freeman's Olympic Legacy Endures

Cathy Freeman stands proudly after lighting the Sydney Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony for the Games on September 15, 2000. (AFP)
Cathy Freeman stands proudly after lighting the Sydney Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony for the Games on September 15, 2000. (AFP)
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20 Years after Sydney, Freeman's Olympic Legacy Endures

Cathy Freeman stands proudly after lighting the Sydney Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony for the Games on September 15, 2000. (AFP)
Cathy Freeman stands proudly after lighting the Sydney Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony for the Games on September 15, 2000. (AFP)

When Cathy Freeman lit the cauldron in Sydney to launch the "best-ever" Olympics 20 years ago Tuesday, then donned a full bodysuit to become the first Aboriginal to win an individual gold medal, she etched her name in sporting folklore.

Her exploits remain the defining moment of a Games which also saw 17-year-old Ian Thorpe burst on the scene, gaining instant stardom with his three golds and two silvers, and the debut of fellow teen swim sensation Michael Phelps.

In a country still struggling to reconcile itself with its indigenous peoples, long-time Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates, now IOC vice-president, recognized Freeman could be a pivotal figure.

"I was the one who asked her to light the cauldron," he told AFP in an interview.

"For me, she was an existing (400m) world champion, she'd had silver in the Atlanta Olympic Games and she was indigenous. And I think that was very important.

"I took Cathy to dinner in Los Angeles and she said to me: 'Why me?' and she named a lot of great Australians," he added.

"And I said, 'You're a current world champion, you're Aboriginal and this will play a part in the reconciliation of our country'."

The identity of the cauldron-lighter was shrouded in secrecy until seconds before Freeman emerged from the shadows in a luminescent white costume to carry the Olympic flame on the final part of its journey from Greece to open the Games.

It stands as a defining image to this day and capped an epic opening ceremony that celebrated Australian culture, emphasizing its Aboriginal heritage.

Seen as a symbol of unity, Freeman carried the weight of a nation's political and sporting hopes on her shoulders even before people knew she would light the cauldron, with her face plastered on posters everywhere.

While her part in the opening ceremony was an emotional moment, it paled in comparison to delivering on the track in the 400 meters, an event that captured the world's attention.

People 'became equal'
The much-hyped race was shrouded in controversy before it even started, with key challenger Marie-Jose Perec dramatically fleeing Australia ahead of their showdown.

France's triple Olympic gold medalist claimed she was threatened and insulted, and that the pressure to beat Freeman was too much to bear.

Despite being written into Olympic history, Freeman rarely talks of that night.

Notoriously private, she declined to speak with AFP, but opened up to the Sydney Daily Telegraph's weekly magazine Stellar in her only print interview ahead of the anniversary.

Freeman, 47, said she could still recall, as if it were yesterday, the noise of the crowd vibrating through her while she warmed up.

"It's like a beast. I'm nervous using that description because I don't want people to feel insulted. But it had a beast-like presence," she said.

"I remember saying to myself, 'Just do what you know.'"

On autopilot, Freeman ran the race of her life, accelerating past Jamaica's Lorraine Graham and Britain's Katharine Merry on the final bend to the thunderous roars of the 112,000-strong Olympic Stadium crowd.

During her victory lap, she draped herself in both the Australian and Aboriginal flags in defiance of Olympic rules, reinforcing the message of reconciliation.

"I only have to cast my mind back to that night where people, for that small moment in time, became equal," she said.

'The best Olympic Games'
"That's so powerful. Everyone is just there celebrating a victory and it's one of the great privileges of my life to witness. Even though I am ordinary, it's an extraordinary story."

Coates remains in touch with Freeman and has convinced her to be on the advisory board for Brisbane's bid to host the 2032 Olympics.

"We will forever hold her in the highest regard," he said.

Sydney won the bid to host the first Games of the new millennium in September 1993, edging Beijing.

It proved to be the last Olympics before the 9/11 terror attacks in New York and, with security not such a pressing priority, there was a party atmosphere in Sydney.

North and South Korea marched as one at the opening ceremony and four East Timorese athletes competed under the Olympic flag as their country awaited independence from Indonesia.

Multiple world records were set with then-IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch famously calling it "the best Olympic Games ever".

While Freeman was the star, Thorpe was also a major success story, setting the first world record of the Games in winning the 400m freestyle. Sydney also marked the debut of Phelps, then 15, who went on to become the most decorated Olympian in history.

Coates was reluctant to say whether it remained the best Olympics.

"That's for others to judge," he said, but pointed to its legacies, with the stadiums built all still being used, and Australia enjoying a reputation as a destination for major events.

"Then we have all the kids that were inspired by Cathy and Ian Thorpe," he added.



Germany Beats France on Penalties to Reach Euro 2025 Semifinals despite Early Red Card


Players of Germany run to celebrate after winning the Women's Euro 2025 quarterfinals soccer match between France and Germany at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland, Saturday, July 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Players of Germany run to celebrate after winning the Women's Euro 2025 quarterfinals soccer match between France and Germany at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland, Saturday, July 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
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Germany Beats France on Penalties to Reach Euro 2025 Semifinals despite Early Red Card


Players of Germany run to celebrate after winning the Women's Euro 2025 quarterfinals soccer match between France and Germany at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland, Saturday, July 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Players of Germany run to celebrate after winning the Women's Euro 2025 quarterfinals soccer match between France and Germany at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland, Saturday, July 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Germany overcame France on penalties and reached the semifinals of the Women’s European Championship despite playing almost the entire match — and extra time — with 10 players.

A drama-filled match finished 1-1 on Saturday, then Germany won the shootout 6-5 thanks to the heroics of Ann-Katrin Berger, who saved two shots as well as dispatching her own spot kick.

There were tears of joy from the Germany players after perhaps one of the greatest examples in soccer history of digging deep to defy the odds, The AP news reported.

“Everyone was in each other’s arms,” Germany coach Christian Wück said. “Everyone was celebrating; everyone was happy that this hard-fought performance led us to victory.

“I can only say it again and again: I’m so proud of the team for the way they took on this challenge against an opponent who demanded everything from us. That was incredible.”

Germany, which is bidding for a record-extending ninth European Championship title, will face World Cup winner Spain in Zurich on Wednesday.

Early drama over hair-pulling That seemed improbable after less than 13 minutes when Germany midfielder Kathrin Hendrich pulled the hair of France captain Griedge Mbock and issued a straight red card.

Grace Geyoro converted the resulting penalty but Sjoeke Nüsken headed her team level just 10 minutes later.

Despite being at a numerical disadvantage, Germany could have taken the lead with a penalty of its own in the second half but France goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin saved Nüsken’s spot kick.

Nüsken scored Germany's last spot kick in the shootout.

Played short again For the second straight match, Germany was forced to play the majority of the contest with 10 players -- Carlotta Wamser was sent off shortly before halftime of the 4-1 thrashing by Sweden in their final group match.

This time it happened even earlier.

A France free kick was headed wide but the video assistant referee spotted Hendrich yanking Mbock’s ponytail.

Geyoro stepped up and, despite the resounding jeers from the wall of Germany fans behind the goal, dispatched the penalty powerfully down the middle.

Germany knew that, with a player down, it had to take full advantage of its set-pieces.

Klara Bühl floated in a corner and Nüsken raced to the near post to meet it with a glancing header that looped into the far corner of the net.

Goals disallowed Despite the player advantage, France was struggling to impose itself, although it had two goals ruled out for offside either side of the break.

Germany was gifted a chance to take a remarkable lead when France defender Selma Bacha gave away a needless penalty when she tripped Jules Brand near the byline.

But France goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin saved Nüsken’s spot kick in yet another failed penalty at Euro 2025.

The best save of the night — and maybe even of the tournament — came from her Germany counterpart in extra time. A backward header from Germany captain Janina Minge had Berger scrambling back to scoop it off the line with an astonishing one-handed stop to spare her teammate’s blushes.

Melvine Malard sent a long-range screamer crashing off the crossbar with almost the last touch of the 120 minutes.

More Berger heroics Berger saved the first penalty she faced from Amel Majri, but Les Bleues were back level when Germany’s Sara Däbritz hit the bar with her penalty.

Berger took the next spot kick, Germany’s fifth, and left her counterpart with no chance. Shortly afterward the goalie saved again, this time to deny Alice Sombath and spark Germany’s celebrations.

The result ended France's 11-match winning streak as the quarterfinals continue to be a stumbling block for Les Bleues, who have now been eliminated in the quarterfinals in seven of the past nine World Cups or Euros.

“I don’t think we have a psychological problem. We have opponents of quality, and it gets harder and harder," said France coach Laurent Bonadei, who took charge in August.

"But I think my players gave us hope; Rome wasn’t built in a day.”