Cathy Freeman paid a surprise visit to stunned Matildas in World Cup camp: ‘A lot of girls were very emotional’

Cathy Freeman has met the Matildas team in person to offer important advice on how to handle the pressure as they make their own attempt to make history at the Women’s World Cup.

Many players, including captain Sam Kerr and Indigenous stars Kyah Simon and Lydia Williams, cite Australian athletics legend Freeman’s incredible gold medal in the 400m run at the 2000 Sydney Olympics as a defining moment in their youth.

Last Wednesday, while preparing for France in Melbourne, players entered what they thought was a tactical meeting with coach Tony Gustavsson – only to be stunned when Freeman appeared in the room.

“He said that while this kind of tournament requires a lot of tactics, it also takes a lot of faith and a lot of heart and so we went to take a little turn and do something different,” veteran defender Aivi Luik told reporters on Tuesday.

“They played about three minutes of YouTube highlights of the moment of Cathy Freeman’s race and by the end there was a lot of emotion floating around the room.

Mary Fowler (right) and Ellie Carpenter were among the Matildas stars excited by Freeman’s unannounced visit ahead of their friendly with France last week

“When they turned on the light, we turned and there she was.

“It was a huge surprise to us. Many girls were very emotional.’

Players freely asked Freeman questions during a meeting that Liege compared to chatting with a friend.

“She’s such a down-to-earth girl, she’s amazing. I still can’t believe that happened,” said the 38-year-old.

Because a few years ago we went through some questions about who your sports hero is and why – and over half the team said Cathy Freeman was their hero.

“So the staff tried to get her in and bless her heart, she came in.

“She doesn’t speak much in public, but she did for us.”

Freeman had huge expectations from the Australian public at the 2000 Games – and still took gold on the track in the 400m final

Sam Kerr will carry the nation’s hopes on her shoulders, but the superstar is rising to the challenge

Like Freeman in 2000, the Matildas will feel the pressure, support and expectation of a country standing behind them in the World Cup.

“(Freeman) talked about how she handled pressure because she obviously had the weight of the nation on her shoulders and she was only one — and we’re a whole team,” Liege said.

“We came away from that feeling a little bit of a weight off our shoulders and just totally inspired.

“My conclusion from what she told us was that we know who we are, we know why we are doing this, and while we want to perform and give results for others outside the circle, at the end of the day you believe in yourself and in yourself. do it for yourself.

“All athletes do what they do because they love the sport and so don’t lose sight of that, and that gives you the confidence to get out there and do your job.”

The Matildas will play Ireland in their World Cup opener at Sydney’s Stadium Australia from 8 p.m. on Thursday.