Freeman unfurls Aboriginal pride

Page R5

Australian Yvonne Goolagong was as famous as Aboriginal athletes get, winning the 1980 Wimbledon tennis tournament on the famous grass courts.

But Catherine Freeman's credentials compared favorably after becoming the first athlete - male or female - to win the 200 and 400 metres in the same Commonwealth Games.

Nor did Aboriginals have just one athlete of the same roots to point to as possible role models with the completion of the XV Commonwealth Games here - two Aussies and half-Sioux Angela Chalmers of Canada all captured medals in track and field events.

But Freeman's triumphs involved not just joy, but controversy, because she dared wave her Australian Aboriginal and national flags in track-side celebration of her first victory - in the 200 metres.

Shortly after she was issued a statement by Arthur Tunstall, chef de mission of the Australian delegation. It asked her not to wave the Aboriginal flag which she had brought to the games. But the emblem - consisting of a black upper-half for the people, a red bottom half for the earth, and a yellow centre for the sun - would see more Victorian sunshine.

Part of Australian delegations for more than three decades, Tunstall has managed to put his foot in his mouth more than once. At these games he angered disabled athletes - including swimmers - with remarks when he questioned their participation in these primarily able-bodied games.

Then, when word came down about the statement issued to the popular 21-year-old Freeman, the Australian people and media voiced their support back home and in Victoria for the sprinter.

The 400 represented her chance to wave the two flags of her choice, and she did. But she wasn't alone. Australian Aboriginal, hurdler Kyle Vander-Kuyp, participated in the semi-final round of the men's 4 x 100-metre relay, thus ensuring himself of a medal with the second-place Australians. To be sure, when the relay team posed for photos, Vander-Kuyp was there with the Aboriginal flag, too.

"I think Indigenous people all over can relate to each other," said Freeman in a news conference following her 200 victory. "I don't know why, it's just a kindred thing."

Freeman, who's from the Queensland city of Mackay (population 40,000), entered the games on one of the world's fastest 10 women in both the 200 and 400 this season.

It was therefore, no surprise that she would do well. But in each race it was no cakewalk. In the 200 metres it took a sudden burst over the final 10 metres to overtake a surprise Mary Onyali of Nigeria. And in the 400-metre final, defending Commonwealth champion Yatima Yusuf led down the back stretch, before Freeman assumed control in the second half, then lost most of her lead in the final few metres.

Freeman told the story of how she got solid reinforcement from her step-father. Bruce Barber became a driving force, encouraging her, saying she could be a champion, and promoting good education.

Through it all, Freeman said she hasn't seen herself as a political figure, rather as a role model. She didn't make a big deal out of something that some Australian journalists said was no big deal.

Helping to ensure it didn't become any bigger was Freeman herself who didn't back down, but didn't lash back, when told not to wave her Aboriginal flag. She just simply ignored the request.

"A lot of people have come up to me and said "Do it." I think the majority of Australians thought I was doing the right thing (waving both flags). There was no compromise made," she said strongly.

"There may have been a problem with certain people," she said with a sly smile. She did admit to being sensitive.

"Make sure you give me both flags at the same time because I'll get in trouble if

I pick up only the Aboriginal one," she had warned of any post-400 celebrations.

After becoming the first Australian Aboriginal woman (not the first man) to win a Commonwealth Games medal in track and field, she tied the two flags together so they appeared back-toback when held above her head.

Asked why it was so important to wave the flag, her simple and forthright answer was: "It represents my heritage and because Aboriginals don't always (get to) feel good about themselves."