At 16 years of age Cathy won gold at the Commonwealth Games as part of the 4 x 100m relay team. In 1990 she was awarded Young Australian of the Year, and Aboriginal Athlete of the Year in 1991. In 1992 Freeman became the first Aboriginal track and field athlete to represent Australia at an Olympic Games. She became one of Australia's best known figures with double gold at the Commonwealth Games in 1994 in the 200m and 400m. Became the first Australian woman to run under 50 seconds for 400m in Melbourne in 1996. Ran the race of her life at the '96 Olympic Games, becoming the sixth fastest woman ever over 400m, running a Commonwealth record and winning the silver medal behind Marie-Jose Perec in arguably the greatest one lap race of all time. Since Atlanta has won back-to-back World Championships 400m in 1997 and 1999. Took the 200m/400m National title double in 2000 at Stadium Australia. Cathy confirmed her dominance of the 400m with a win at the Lausanne Grand Prix in July '00 in 49.56 She continued to lower her season 2000 best time to 49.48s with a win at the Monte Carlo Grand Prix in Aug '00 and a 200m win at the Gateshead meet in London.