Surfing star Sally Fitzgibbons reveals how her Olympics dream was inspired by Cathy Freeman
When Sally Fitzgibbons was nine years old she saw something she’ll never forget. It involved Cathy Freeman, a gold medal and seeing her idol up close. She reveals how that moment inspired her Olympics dream.
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Nine years old at the time, champion Australian surfer Sally Fitzgibbons bawled her eyes out the first time she saw Cathy Freeman.
Fitzgibbons was at ANZ Stadium the night Freeman won gold in the 400 metres at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
Sitting with her family in the nosebleed seats, she was so giddy with excitement that she dashed down to the barriers to try and get Freeman’s autograph.
“I wanted her to sign my cap because I thought it would give me superpowers whenever I wore it,” Fitzgibbons said. “But there were so many people I couldn’t get near enough to her.”
Fearing she had missed her only chance to meet her idol, Fitzgibbons shed a tear on the train home that night while the seeds of her Olympic journey were being planted.
“It was just the best thing in my life,” she said. “I just couldn‘t believe how huge everything was and how many people were there, it was like a giant sporting Hollywood production.
“We were literally two rows from the top but the noise when Cathy came out was so loud, the ground was rumbling. I can’t imagine what it felt like for her.”
Inspired by Freeman, Fitzgibbons established herself as a rising star of middle distance running, winning two gold medals at the 2007 Youth Olympics, but the lure of the ocean was so strong she gave it up to concentrate on surfing.
Surfing has been added to the Olympic program for Tokyo 2020 and in 2018, Fitzgibbons was invited to a training camp, where Freeman was the guest speaker.
“It was 18 years later so I couldn’t sleep the night before just thinking about it,” Fitzgibbons said.
“When she finished her talk, she asked if anyone had any questions so I put my hand up and stepped forward.
“I was really nervous because I was in front of my peers and I kind of lost it a bit, but I handed her a cap and a marker pen and asked if she could sign it for me. And she did.”
Two years later, Fitzgibbons sealed her place in the team for Tokyo and is sharing her memories from Sydney as part of the 20-year anniversary of the 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Her photos will be included in the #MySydney2000 social media campaign being launched on Sunday where everyone – competitors, spectators, volunteers and anyone who was inspired by the Olympics – can share their own favourite moments.
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Originally published as Surfing star Sally Fitzgibbons reveals how her Olympics dream was inspired by Cathy Freeman
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