Following her international debut, Arnhem Land and Ramingining teenager Briseis Brittain hoped to catch the attention of Catherine Freeman. The two have since met, and the Australian great delivered a powerful message to the rising star ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
Brittain is hardly unique in a generation inspired by Freeman’s success, but the 17-year-old resonates more with the Olympic champion’s impact beyond the track.
Speaking after her global debut at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi last September, where she emerged as one of the nation’s most promising First Nations prospects, Brittain used the platform to credit her inspiration.
“I like Cathy Freeman. She was really amazing and talented, and I want to be like her,” Brittain said.
“So here I am. I’m here right now and I hope that Cathy Freeman will see this.”
It took until the 2026 Maurie Plant Meet – Melbourne for Brittain’s wish to come to become reality, as Catherine Freeman appeared at the top of the grandstand to surprise Brittain and teammate Lexie Brown ahead of their race, with Freeman famously arriving on the Commonwealth Games stage with gold as a teenager in 1990.
The impact of the meeting was felt all the way in Ramingining, a town over 500km east of Darwin with a population of less than 1000 people, where Brittain was raised and fell in love with running on the dirt roads.
“When I saw her, I started crying! I took some videos and photos, and then I told my Mum and she was so happy that she started crying as well,” Brittian said.
“I told my family in Ramingining and they were really proud that I had finally met her.
“She told me to keep going and to never give up, and to believe in myself. She told me she is really proud of me.”
Selected today for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Brittain has already been involved in the King’s Baton Relay, visiting Uluru where she realised the impact of her blossoming international career on the next generaiton.
“It was really cool to go to Uluru and watch the sunrise,” Brittain said.
“The kids at the school were so excited and the teacher said they were really happy to meet me. I was telling them how I train and do athletics, and I got to help them when we ran together.
“I just can’t believe that I’m going to represent Australia again. It’s going to be so cool to see lots of new people and countries.”
A sprinter who competes from 100-400m in the T38 classification for athletes with movement and coordination impairments, Brittain will contest the 200m T38 in Glasgow, where she will look to improve her 27.51-second personal best under the guidance of coach Roger Chin.
The Northern Territory product will be joined by Rhiannon Clarke in the event, who owns the Australian record at 26.79-seconds.
“Last year was my first time overseas and I told my family about the track and the people,” Brittain said.
“I’m definitely hoping to get a new PB. A medal would be a bonus but I’m just going to keep training hard.”
Brittain is one of 24 Para-athletes announced for the 2026 Commonwealth Games this morning, with the full team available HERE.
By Lachlan Moorhouse, Australian Athletics
Posted 7/5/2026
