Cathy Freeman held hands with a mystery man during an intimate stroll along the beach in Cairns on Wednesday, less than a month after she and her husband of 15 years, James Marsh, announced their separation.
The 51-year-old Australian Olympic gold medallist went for a stroll along the coast with an unidentifiable man in what appeared to be a romantic getaway for the couple.
Freeman wore a khaki linen dress and looked impeccably vacation-ready, accessorizing with a pair of orange sandals and sunglasses.
She used a forearm crutch to help her walk while keeping her other arm extended and holding the man’s hand.
Meanwhile, her mystery man opted for a pink shirt, grey shorts and a floppy hat.
She was seen walking alongside Freeman in a pair of black sandals and carrying a khaki-colored man bag close to her torso.
Two days after their split in August, Marsh was first spotted leaving a cafe in Brighton, Melbourne.
The 49-year-old kept a low profile as he stepped out in a pale turquoise hoodie and black sweatpants.
Cathy Freeman held hands with a mystery man during an intimate stroll along the beach in Cairns less than a month after she and husband James Marsh announced their split.
Freeman and her ex-husband released a joint statement on August 16 announcing that they were separating and would continue to co-parent their 13-year-old daughter Ruby.
“After 15 years of marriage, we have sadly separated. We continue to raise our children together and this is our highest priority,” the statement read. Herald of the Sun.
‘We continue to share a professional and working alliance through Estrella Sports Management.
‘As this is a personal matter, we would greatly appreciate it if you could respect our privacy and we will not comment further.’
![Cathy Freeman holds hands with a mystery man in Cairns less than a month after announcing her split from husband James Marsh after 15 years of marriage 7 The 51-year-old Australian Olympic gold medallist went for a stroll along the coast with an unidentifiable man in what appeared to be a romantic getaway for the couple.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/1726097870_713_Cathy-Freeman-holds-hands-with-a-mystery-man-in-Cairns.jpg.webp)
The 51-year-old Australian Olympic gold medallist went for a stroll along the coast with an unidentifiable man in what appeared to be a romantic getaway for the couple.
![Cathy Freeman holds hands with a mystery man in Cairns less than a month after announcing her split from husband James Marsh after 15 years of marriage 9 Two days after their split in August, Freeman's ex-husband Jame Marsh (pictured) was first spotted leaving a cafe alone in Brighton, Melbourne.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/1726097880_571_Cathy-Freeman-holds-hands-with-a-mystery-man-in-Cairns.jpg.webp)
Two days after their split in August, Freeman’s ex-husband Jame Marsh (pictured) was first spotted leaving a cafe alone in Brighton, Melbourne.
The notoriously private sports star has previously made headlines for her love life.
She was in a long-term relationship with her track coach Nic Bideau, who helped her train to win gold at the 2000 Olympics after their relationship ended.
Freeman was married to her first husband, Alexander ‘Sandy’ Bodecker, from 1999 to 2003.
She continued dating Australian actor Joel Edgerton before they split in 2005 and married her second husband, James Murch, in 2009.
![Cathy Freeman holds hands with a mystery man in Cairns less than a month after announcing her split from husband James Marsh after 15 years of marriage 11 The 49-year-old kept a low profile as he stepped out in a hoodie and black sweatpants.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/1726097890_744_Cathy-Freeman-holds-hands-with-a-mystery-man-in-Cairns.jpg.webp)
The 49-year-old kept a low profile as he stepped out in a hoodie and black sweatpants.
![Cathy Freeman holds hands with a mystery man in Cairns less than a month after announcing her split from husband James Marsh after 15 years of marriage 13 He seemed very pensive and was checking his phone during the solo outing.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/1726097898_819_Cathy-Freeman-holds-hands-with-a-mystery-man-in-Cairns.jpg.webp)
He seemed very pensive and was checking his phone during the solo outing.
![Cathy Freeman holds hands with a mystery man in Cairns less than a month after announcing her split from husband James Marsh after 15 years of marriage 15 In August, Freeman and Murch announced their shock split after 15 years of marriage. Pictured together in 2016](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/1726097905_662_Cathy-Freeman-holds-hands-with-a-mystery-man-in-Cairns.jpg.webp)
In August, Freeman and Murch announced their shock split after 15 years of marriage. Pictured together in 2016
In 2011 they welcomed a daughter, Ruby.
In her memoirs, Freeman revealed the shocking news that she had had an affair with Edgerton during her marriage to Bodecker.
The former 400-meter runner recalled the moment she told her now-ex Bodecker that she was “seeing someone.”
“Lighting the cauldron at the Sydney Games was a piece of cake compared to the anxiety that pulsed through my veins as I listened to Alexander speak,” she wrote.
“I’m seeing someone,” Freeman wrote of his conversation with Bodecker.
“I’m Joel Edgerton.”
Freeman made a name for herself when she became the first Indigenous Australian to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games at the age of 16.
![Cathy Freeman holds hands with a mystery man in Cairns less than a month after announcing her split from husband James Marsh after 15 years of marriage 17 The sprinter and her husband released a joint statement announcing that they were separating and would continue to raise their 13-year-old daughter Ruby together. Pictured together in 2014](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/Cathy-Freeman-holds-hands-with-a-mystery-man-in-Cairns.jpeg.webp)
The sprinter and her husband released a joint statement announcing that they were separating and would continue to raise their 13-year-old daughter Ruby together. Pictured together in 2014
From there she won two more gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in 1994 and a silver medal at the 1996 Olympics.
She finished first in the 400-meter event at the 1997 World Championships and again in 1999.
In 2000, the Indigenous Australian athlete captivated a nation when she lit the iconic Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games.
During the Games she won the women’s 400-meter race with a time of 49.11 seconds.
Freeman finally ended his racing career in 2003.