At the age of 16, Cathy Freeman became the first Australian Indigenous person to receive a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games. She was trained by her stepfather when she was only five years old, competing in various events like the 100 m, 200 m, and the long jump. But her main forte was in the 400-meter event.
She won a gold medal in the 2000 Olympic Games and a silver in Atlanta in 1996. Her 400 m record of 48.63 makes her one of the fastest women in the world. She decided to retire in 2003 to spend quality time with her family and founded the Cathy Freeman Foundation in 2007.
Dara Torres
While other Olympians would make single, short appearances in the Olympic Games, Dara Torres would be the first competitive swimmer to represent the US in five Olympics (1984, 1988, 1992, 2000, and 2008). Throughout her career, she’s become a 12-time Olympic medalist and the oldest member of the US Olympic team.
Dara Torres was forced to retire after she suffered knee problems. She would’ve wanted to be part of the Olympic team in 2012, but announced her retirement after the trials. She started a career in modeling and has worked for various networks as a reporter.
Apolo Ohno
The US discovered its youngest champion in short-track speed skating when Apolo Ohno clinched the US National Championship at the age of 14. He held the title from 2001 to 2009 and became an eight-time medalist in the Winter Olympics. In his prime, he became the face of the US short track, the most decorated American Olympian, too, at the Winter Olympic Games.
After he retired in 2013, Apolo Ohno became a motivational speaker, and he started his own nutritional supplement business. He joined the 'Dancing with the Stars', competition in 2007 and won.
Nastia Liukin
Born to gymnast parents, Nastia Liukin didn’t have any problem growing into the sport her family loves. The Russian-American was born in Moscow but moved to America with her family when she was two years old. The following year she would start her first lessons since she was always in the gym with her parents anyway, and she first competed at the junior level in 2002.
She eventually tied with Shannon Miller for third place with the most world championship medals among US gymnasts. She was the all-around champion in the 2008 Olympics, where she also garnered three silver medals and a bronze. She attempted to make a comeback in 2010 but failed to make the cut after several falls.
Jan Zelezny
Jan Zelezny is a retired Czech track and field athlete, widely considered the best javelin thrower of modern times. As an Olympian, he won gold medals in the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Olympics, and he held the world record for throwing 98.48 meters for several years.
It is remarkable how he has kept himself above the competition by also being credited for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th best performances. Now retired, he coaches in Prague and works for the IOC.