When they drew the curtain on the 2000 Olympics, the 27th Olympiad, Australians had the opportunity to showcase its pomp and splendor with pride. Although the Olympic movement brought attention to Sydney and its most famous landmark, Sydney harbor, Australia's race relations and process of national reconciliation with its Aboriginal people were also under scrutiny. This process was brought into perspective when Cathy Freeman, an Aborigine, won the 400m gold at the Olympics.

Freeman lit the Olympic cauldron that flew high over Sydney for more than two weeks. Ever since then, she had an immense pressure on her to win the 400 meter gold, her signature event.

Prime Minister John Howard hailed Freeman's victory and supported her decision to carry both Aboriginal and Australian flags in her victory lap around the packed and cheering stadium. In the process of winning a gold medal for her country, Freeman also gave further impetus to the process of reconciliation that has been gaining momentum in recent years.

Aborigines were only counted as Australian citizens and allowed to vote in 1967. They make up two percent of the population and have a life expectancy 20 years less than other Australians. Thousands were massacred after Australia was colonized by white settlers from 1788. They were evicted from their ancestral lands.

Between the 1920s and 1960s, the government imposed a policy of forced assimilation of light-skinned Aboriginal children who were forcibly removed from their families to live in the white community. Freeman's grandmother was a part of this generation that has been termed "the stolen generation."

Now with the Olympic gold medal making her an internationally prominent figure, Freeman has turned out to be strong voice for her people and a role model as well. Her astounding athletic career has in many ways been a measure of the progress made in race relations in Australia.

Freeman became the first woman to win successive 400m titles at the World Athletics Championships and the first Australian to repeat in any event since the championships began in 1983. She also became the first Aboriginal to represent Australia at the Olympic games and the first Aboriginal world champion.

Her accomplishments have not always been free from criticism, however. At the 1994 Commonwealth Games, Freeman took her first victory lap with the Aboriginal flag before taking another one with the Australian flag. This move resulted in a lot of criticism from some of the Australian population but also ignited much discussion and raised awareness regarding Aboriginal issues and race relations.

Australia, the host nation, took fourth place at the Olympics with 16 gold, 25 silver and 17 bronze medals. After the closing ceremony, when more than 10,000 athletes returned home, the Australians were left to ponder on the future of the process of reconciliation.