Cathy Freeman

I think the greatest amount of pressure is the pressure I place on myself. So in a way I chose to be alone. ”

I like looking feminine and I enjoy being a role model. I enjoy being a woman. It all comes down to having the confidence to be who you are. ”

I like being in the workforce; it keeps me grounded. ”

I don't like people looking at me; I hate the attention. ”

I'm not a marriage expert, quite clearly. ”

I was going to shave it. It went in two parts. I got a bob first but it kept falling all over my face. Then it was off, short. The main reason it was long was because my mother cut it short when I was little and I was trying to make up for that. ”

I feel like I've reached an age where I can relax a little bit with the knowledge of what I've been through, take all that experience and use it. I love the challenge of trying to get back to where I've been, and beyond it. ”

I want to keep my private life private. ”

I made my first Australian senior team when I was 16, first Olympics when I was 19, and I retired. I'm 32, I retired four years ago, so a good third of my life or nearly a third of my life has been all about running. ”

I don't have a lot of regrets in my life. ”