‘Unfortunately separated’: Cathy Freeman and husband quietly split

Australian sporting icon Cathy Freeman and her husband James Murch have quietly separated, saying their “greatest priority” during this difficult time is their daughter.

Cathy Freeman and James Murch have separated after 15 years of marriage.

Cathy Freeman and James Murch have announced their separation after 15 years of marriage.

In a statement to the Herald Sun on Friday, Freeman, 51, and Murch, 49, said their focus would remain with their daughter Ruby.

“After 15 years of marriage we have unfortunately separated. We continue co-parenting and this is our greatest priority,” the statement said.

“We continue sharing a professional and working partnership through Estrella Sports Management.

The pair will continue to work together through Estrella Sports Management. Picture: Regina Karon

“Given this is a personal matter we would greatly appreciate you respecting our privacy and we won’t be making any further comment”.

The pair met in 2005 and were married in 2009 at Spray Farm on the Bellarine Peninsula.

This year marks 24 years since Freeman won gold in the 400m at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, a moment that continues to captivate the nation.

She had previously won the 400m at the 1997 and 1999 World Championships, following double gold at the 1994 Commonwealth Games and silver at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Cathy Freeman before lighting the Olympic cauldron in Sydney in 2000. Picture: AFP

Last year Freeman was honoured with a grandstand named after her in Sydney’s Olympic Park.

Her name was chosen via public nomination, meaning the Eastern Grandstand at Accor Stadium is now the Cathy Freeman stand in honour of her greatest athletic triumph.

Murch, a former stockbroker and fund manager who then spent eight years as an AFL recruiter, runs Estrella Sports Management which boasts T20 sensation Jake Fraser-McGurk plus the Sutherland cricketing siblings Will and Annabel as clients.

Murch was also a handy fast bowler for Premier cricket team St Kilda where he played in a Premiership (94 career wickets at 21.57).