英语沙龙：弗里曼：澳大利亚的女英雄

Freeman：Australian Heroine

At 16 years of age Freeman won gold at the Commonwealth¹ Games as part of the 4×100m relay team．In 1990she was awarded Young Australian of the Year，and Aboriginal² Athlete of the Year in 1991．In 1992 Freeman became the first Aboriginal track and field athlete to represent Australia at an Olympic Games．She became one of popular figures after winning the gold medal in the women’ s 400 meters in the Olympic Games2000 held in her motherland．

It all started in Atlanta．That was the first time I saw her．I said to myself damn，she’s kind a cute I must tune³ in tomorrow for a second glimpse．The next time I saw her，she looked even better．After the Olympic Games I was somewhat obsessed⁴ with seeing her again；mostly due to the fact that it was next to impossible to find anything on her，that little glimpse wasn’t enough．Soon，I started looking for track magazines，books，and watching track shows every time they were aired．I didn’t even like track，I just watched to see her run．Guess you can say Freeman was my introduction to track and field．With the track and field，I observed，I learned more about the sport and the major players involved in it．

Not only is Cathy Freeman good－looking and an athlete who possesses supreme⁵ physical talents but also she’s a great woman with a wonderful personality as well．She represents her Aborigine people to the fullest，fights for them，and gives them something to believe in．Cathy is a hero for Aborigines and non Aborigines alike．In this day of sports when most athletes think of only themselves，Cathy is one of the few who makes a conscious effort to represent herself as a positive role model．She’s an extremely intelligent young woman who knows who she is and is proud of it．Cathy is a very special person who can light up a whole room．Her beauty lies within as well as on the outside．

Now she’s won the gold in the400 －meter－race at the Olympics．She is truly the best at her game．Not only does Cathy make her fellow Australians proud but many around the world．With the lighting⁶ of the torch at 2000 Olympic games，Cathy brought Australians closer together．

When asked about her future after the race，guess how Cathy replied？“Every second my thoughts take me somewhere else．Retirement⁷？Sure，it’s crossed my mind．Living in another country？Sure，it’s crossed my mind．What I love so much about life is that it’s a mystery and who knows what lies ahead．My plan now is just to get a massage⁸ right away．”

弗里曼：澳大利亚的女英雄

16岁时，弗里曼作为4×100m接力队的一员，在英联邦运动会上赢得了金牌。1990年，她被授予该年度澳大利亚杰出青年奖；1991年又获得该年度最佳土著运动员奖。1992年，弗里曼成为代表澳大利亚参加奥林匹克运动会的第一名土著田径运动员。获得了在自己祖国举办的200年奥运会女子400米金牌后，她成了澳大利亚最受欢迎的人物之一。

一切都开始于亚特兰大。那是我第一次看见她。我对自己说，天呐，她太漂亮了，我明天一定要更仔细地看看她。我第二次见到她时，她竟更加漂亮了。奥运会结束后，我心中老想着要再见到她，主要是因为一切美好在她身上可谓无所不有，短短的一瞥是不够的。不久，我开始寻找径赛运动的杂志、书籍，抓住每一次转播的机会观看田径赛事。我不大喜欢田径运动，我观看只是为了看她赛跑的英姿。可以说是弗里曼领我步入田径之门。在田径领域里，我观察，我学到了许多有关这项运动的知识，也更了解了这项运动的主要选手。

卡西·弗里曼不仅靓丽，是一位拥有超凡运动天份的运动员，而且也是一位具有优秀性格的伟大女子。她最完美地代表了她的土著民族，为他们奋斗，给他们信心。她既是土著人的英雄，也是非土著人的英雄。在当今体育界，多数运动员只为自己着想，卡西是自觉地以一种积极形象展现自我的少数人物之一。她是一位聪明绝顶的年轻女子，懂得自身的价值并为此感到骄傲。卡西是一个能够照亮整间屋子的特殊的人。她的美丽不仅流溢于外表，也表现在内心。

现在她已赢得了400米赛的奥运会金牌。她堪称是这项运动的真正佼佼者。她不仅使澳大利亚同胞感到骄傲，也使全世界许多人感到骄傲。卡西点燃了2000年奥运火炬，她将澳大利亚人更加紧密地连在了一起。

当比赛后被问及自己的未来时，你猜卡西是如何回答的？她说，“每分每秒我都有不同的想法。退役？当然有过这种闪念。到另一个国家定居？当然也曾闪过。我对生活的真爱就在于生活是个谜，谁知道前面是些什么。我现在的计划就是马上去做个按摩。”

1 commonwealth   

n.共和国，联邦，共同体

参考例句：

• He is the chairman of the commonwealth of artists.他是艺术家协会的主席。
• Most of the members of the Commonwealth are nonwhite.英联邦的许多成员国不是白人国家。

2 aboriginal   

adj.（指动植物）土生的，原产地的，土著的

参考例句：

• They managed to wipe out the entire aboriginal population.他们终于把那些土著人全部消灭了。
• The lndians are the aboriginal Americans.印第安人是美国的土著人。

3 tune   

n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整

参考例句：

• He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
• The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。

4 obsessed   

adj.心神不宁的,鬼迷心窍的,沉迷的

参考例句：

• He's obsessed by computers. 他迷上了电脑。
• The fear of death obsessed him throughout his old life. 他晚年一直受着死亡恐惧的困扰。

5 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

6 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

7 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

8 massage   

n.按摩，揉；vt.按摩，揉，美化，奉承，篡改数据

参考例句：

• He is really quite skilled in doing massage.他的按摩技术确实不错。
• Massage helps relieve the tension in one's muscles.按摩可使僵硬的肌肉松弛。