Cathy Freeman’s win within the ladies’s 400m at Sydney 2000 is a kind of iconic moments not solely notable for Olympics followers however past sport, too.

Running in entrance of a house crowd in Australia, Freeman received gold simply days after lighting the Olympic flame in the course of the Opening Ceremony. The alternative of the 27-year-old was poignant because of her Aboriginal heritage, which organisers hoped would promote reconciliation in Australia.

On profitable the Olympic title, Freeman celebrated by carrying each the Australian flag and the Aboriginal flag, rigorously choosing them up concurrently earlier than tying their ends collectively to exhibit equal significance to her. The crowd roared.

With the newest phase of ticketing for Paris 2024 now open, Olympics.com requested these fortunate sufficient to have skilled the drama, glory and defeat showcased within the world showpiece to share their tales from the stands.

One of the greater than 100,000 followers fortunate sufficient to bear witness to Freeman’s second was 13-year-old Ashlee Morgan. Watching from the stands along with her dad and mom, {the teenager} realised she was a part of one thing particular even then.

“To have been there to witness a moment that remains culturally significant to the fabric of our nation is something I cherish,” Morgan informed Olympics.com, revealing the household had taken a 10-hour street journey from Melbourne to be in Sydney for the Olympics.

“I grew up attending sports activities each week, getting used to crowds of 80-90,000. But the electrical energy that was current that evening was unmatched by something I’ve seen. 110,000 individuals all with one dream that evening. She seemed like a superhero, and she or he carried out like one with the expectations and hopes of the entire nation solely on her.

“As a very proud Australian, as a 13-year-old sports fanatic with indigenous heritage, as a passionate little girl who idolised strong, resilient, badass women, I knew what it meant for me and how poignant of a moment in time it was that I experienced,” Morgan mentioned.