"I was always surrounded by expectation from the very first race I ran as a 5-year-old"

This quote by Cathy Freeman speaks to the expectations that were put on her from a really young age. As a 5-year-old, she was already running races and was expected to carry out well. This expectation likely came from her family, good friends, and neighborhood, who saw her potential and desired her to succeed. This expectation most likely motivated her to continue running and to pursue excellence. It likewise likely put a lot of pressure on her to carry out, which might have been both a true blessing and a curse. On one hand, it pressed her to reach her objectives, however on the other hand, it could have been overwhelming and intimidating. Regardless, it is clear that Cathy Freeman was surrounded by expectation from an extremely young age, and it likely contributed in her success.