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Australian track and field’s retired golden girl Cathy Freeman has urged the public to support her successor Jana Rawlinson as she deals with the disappointment of missing the Olympics.
Sydney Olympics gold medallist Freeman said Rawlinson would be desperately upset by the thought of missing next month’s Games because of injury.
Freeman said she hadn’t spoken directly to Rawlinson since she announced her withdrawal from the Games last week.
But she said people needed to support the 25-year-old so she could focus her attention on the 2012 London Games.
“It’s important for the public of Australia to start supporting her in her endeavours to recover from this massive disappointment and looking to the future,” Freeman said.
“Naturally, I really feel for her. I look forward to seeing the best of her that’s yet to come.”
Freeman, who will attend the Olympics as a spectator, admits Australia’s track and field team will find Beijing difficult without its best gold medal hope Rawlinson.
But she said putting pressure on other athletes to deliver was the wrong approach, mindful of the crushing expectation she faced as a hot favourite heading into the 400m in Sydney.
“It’s tough. You can’t compare us to a sport like swimming (in terms of medals). All you can expect is our athletes give it their all and let’s just wait and see,” Freeman said.
“I always hesitate to place pressure on athletes given what I’ve been through myself.
“Let’s just support them and know they’ll give it their all.”
Freeman is among the mentors at the five-day AFL KickStart camp for indigenous AFL hopefuls in Melbourne this week.