Cathy Freeman (b.1973), athlete, was born in Mackay, Queensland. At the age of 16 she became the first Aboriginal sprinter to win a Commonwealth Gold medal. She won two gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in 1994, and as the first Aboriginal track and field athlete to represent Australia at the Olympic games, she won a silver medal in the 400m in Atlanta in 1996. She is ranked first in the world in her signature event, the 400m, in which she won back-to-back World Championships in 1997 and 1999. Freeman has captured the imagination of Australians with her pride in her Aboriginality and her poise on the public speaking circuit. She was named Young Australian of the Year in 1990, and Australian of the Year in 1998. She is the first person to win both titles.

This photograph was taken at the NSW Academy of Sport in December 1994, by the Canadian born photographic duo, Denis Montalbetti and Gay Campbell. In high demand for advertising and fashion, Montalbetti + Campbell's particular strength is portrait photography.