Simon pays homage to Freeman’s inspiration

WHEN Cathy Freeman embedded her name in Australian sporting history, she also imprinted it on the psyche of an eight-year-old Kyah Simon.

At home with her family in Western Sydney, the budding professional footballer watched a strong female Aboriginal role model win her famous 400m gold, and realised she wanted to emulate it.

“Just watching that through a TV screen was life-changing for me,” Simon said.

“That was such a vivid memory. It was the moment I was inspired as a young girl to play for Australia and represent Australia at an Olympic Games one day.

“Knowing how passionate and outspoken she was about her Aboriginal heritage, how proud she was, reassured me and gave me security in being as vocal and proud of my culture and background and heritage,” Simon said.

“She influenced my life in such a positive way ... I’m hoping to replicate the same effect she had on me to many young girls out there in Australia.”

Simon has already achieved that over a decade of service to the national team.

The 27-year-old has also contested an Olympics — she had tears in her eyes when the Matildas received a congratulatory message from Freeman after qualifying for Rio 2016 — along with two World Cups.

But there’s also a feeling that if Australia can win hosting rights for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, the country could yet witness another moment in time similar to the one that made Sydney 2000 so distinctive and one certain to inspire a generation of kids to follow their own path.

“To have that on home soil is something I never thought would ever happen in my lifetime,” Simon said. “Just watching Cathy through a TV screen was life-changing for me, but for young girls to be able to watch a game live is a whole other world. “