Olympic legend Cathy Freeman has never met Latrell Mitchell but admires the way the Rabbitohs star “represents his family and community and culture”, and is inspiring the next generation of Indigenous sports stars.
The 400m gold medallist from the 2000 Sydney Games also recalled being intimidated by coach Michael Maguire when asked to address the South Sydney playing group before the 2014 grand final, and revealed winger Alex Johnston was the one player she feared taking on in a foot race.
Freeman rarely gives media interviews, but spoke to this masthead as she joined Souths to help celebrate Indigenous Round on Saturday night.
Freeman was asked to join Souths, who have no fewer than 11 Indigenous players in their line-up, having addressed the group the day before the 2014 grand final. She later appeared in a famous photo sitting next to the premiership trophy with Greg Inglis, who was due to lead the players onto the field for the game against Parramatta on Saturday.
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