Cathy Freeman wins the Sydney Olympic 400m title

Freeman wins in 49.11

Cathy Freeman won the women’s Olympic 400 metres in Sydney on 25 September 2000, clocking 49.11 seconds. Jamaica’s Lorraine Graham finished second and Britain’s Katharine Merry third. The final took place at Stadium Australia, where Freeman had lit the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony.

The decisive closing stages

Freeman ran from lane six and was third at halfway. She accelerated with roughly 150 metres remaining, challenged for the lead entering the home straight and pulled clear in the final 50 metres. The Australian Olympic Committee records a crowd of more than 100,000 at the stadium.

From Atlanta silver to Sydney gold

Freeman had taken 400m silver at Atlanta 1996 behind Marie-José Pérec and won the 1997 and 1999 world titles before her home Olympics. Sydney added Olympic gold to that record. She celebrated with the Australian and Aboriginal flags, in a moment that carried significance beyond the finishing time.

Her Sydney programme also included seventh place in the 200 metres and fifth in the women’s 4×400m relay. Those were separate events: the 49.11-second performance belongs specifically to the individual 400m final.