Cathy Freeman

A runner who specializes in the 400-meter dash, Cathay Freeman, was the first indigenous athlete to win an Olympic medal. This Australian runner won a silver in 1996 and was poised to get the gold medal during the 2000 Olympics. Fully inspired as she competed in her home country during the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Freeman indeed brought home the gold medal. She has since then become an icon in Australia, inspiring more to follow in her footsteps.

Three years later, she eventually hung her shoes to focus on her family, and since 2007, she has lived a much more low-key life. She probably still needs the best home security system to ensure the family’s safety and privacy. She also established the Cathy Freeman Foundation, where she helps indigenous children achieve their dreams in school and beyond. Her foundation offers incentives for children to go to school in partnership with the Brotherhood of St Laurence. And AIEF.