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The Australian sporting world is in shock after Cathy Freeman and her husband James Murch announced their separation after 15 years of marriage.
The 51-year-old Olympic gold medalist has had several high-profile relationships throughout her celebrated career, including one with an A-list Hollywood movie star and her former coach.
Below, Daily Mail Australia takes a look at the legendary Australian athlete’s most famous romances.
Nic Bideau
In the 1990s, Freeman was in a long-term relationship with her sports coach and manager Nic Bideau, whom she once called her “Prince Charming”.
Their relationship broke down after she won her first 400m world title in 1997.
But she kept him on as her manager, something that reportedly caused tension with her next boyfriend, and then husband, Alexander Bodecker.
Bideau helped coach Cathy to her greatest achievement – winning the gold medal in the 400 metres at the 2000 Sydney Olympics – and the pair can be seen celebrating her extraordinary feat after the event.
In the 1990s, Freeman had a long-term relationship with her coach and athletics manager, Nic Bideau (right). Nic helped coach Cathy to win the 400m gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and was seen passionately celebrating the victory with her.
Alexander ‘Sandy’ Bodecker
Freeman’s first marriage, in 1999, was to Nike executive Alexander “Sandy” Bodecker, who is two decades her senior.
Their four-year marriage had its ups and downs, and Cathy took a six-month break from the sport to help Sandy recover from throat cancer in 2002.
The couple confirmed their divorce in February 2003, and Freeman would make a startling confession in his memoir, Born to Run, that she had cheated on him in recent days.
Freeman’s first marriage, in 1999, was to Nike executive Alexander “Sandy” Bodecker (left), who is two decades her senior. Their four-year marriage had its ups and downs, and Cathy took a six-month break from the sport to help Sandy recover from throat cancer in 2002.
Joel Edgerton
The Mackay-born athlete began dating Australian-born Hollywood heartthrob Joel Edgerton in 2003 after meeting him at the Logie Awards the previous year.
At the time, Edgerton was starring in the Australian drama The Secret Life of Us, and the couple became known for attending several red carpet events together.
In her memoirs, Freeman revealed 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 dating someone. It’s Joel Edgerton,” Freeman wrote of his conversation with Bodecker.
They confirmed their split in 2005 and Edgerton later told SBS that their relationship did not work out due to their incompatible lifestyles.
“She didn’t like the role of a public figure and preferred not to be the center of attention,” Joel said.
The Olympic gold medallist has had several high-profile relationships throughout her career, including one with an A-list Hollywood movie star and her former coach. The Mackay-born athlete began dating Australian Hollywood heartthrob Joel Edgerton (right) in 2003.
James Murch
Cathy’s most recent relationship was with her second husband, James Murch, whom she married on the Bellarine Peninsula in Victoria in 2009.
The couple are parents to a 13-year-old daughter, Ruby.
On Friday, they released a joint statement announcing that they were separating and would continue to co-parent their daughter.
“After 15 years of marriage, we have sadly separated. We continue to raise our children together and that is our highest priority,” their statement read.
‘We continue to share a professional and working alliance through Estrella Sports Management.
The Australian sporting world is in shock after news broke on Friday that Cathy Freeman and her husband James Murch have announced their separation after 15 years of marriage. Both pictured
‘As this is a personal matter, we would greatly appreciate it if you would respect our privacy and we will not be commenting further.’
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.
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.
She won the women’s 400-meter race in 49.11 seconds before the eyes of the entire country.
Freeman ended his sporting career in 2003 and later founded his own charity, helping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living in remote communities.
In 2000, the Indigenous Australian athlete captivated a nation by lighting the iconic Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics. She won the women’s 400-meter race in 49.11 seconds during the Games.