Twenty-five years on, Kyle Vander-Kuyp still remembers the Sydney Olympics as if it were yesterday.
The proud Worimi and Yuin man, and former Olympian in the 110m hurdles, says the Games were the pinnacle of his career - a home Olympics where the energy of the crowd was unlike anything else he had experienced.
“There aren’t many times in your career that you’ll get a roar that nearly knocks you out,” Vander-Kuyp told NITV.
“As soon as I walked out of the tunnel, it was on you - people yelling, ‘Go mate!’ Even on the start line, you’re just trying to stay focused.”
Vander-Kuyp made the semi-finals in Sydney, proud to compete on home soil at the age of 29.
“If I’d run my best, I might’ve made the final. But I’ve got no regrets - I had three runs in that stadium, and the crowd acknowledged me every time.”
Memories of Cathy Freeman
For Vander-Kuyp, one of the most powerful memories was shifting from competitor to supporter - taking a seat in the stands to watch his friend Cathy Freeman claim gold in the women’s 400m.
“I’d just finished racing and sat about 20 metres from the finish line. Watching her walk out, I was thinking, ‘Come on, handle this moment, Cathy.’
"And she did. The roar, the flash photography, the atmosphere - it was the dream result in the home stadium,” he said.
Their friendship stretches back to their teenage years, when Vander-Kuyp first spotted Freeman training at Sydney’s ES Marks Field.
“She was shy, I was shy - but we connected. We travelled the world together through the 90s, training and competing.
"Cathy’s laugh is infectious, but when she’s on the track, she’s fierce. That balance is what made her great.”
Vander-Kuyp says her legacy continues to inspire athletes of all backgrounds.
“There’s not an athlete I meet who doesn’t say, ‘I was inspired by Cathy.’ Her story shows that you can be humble, connected to family, and still achieve greatness.”
A career that still stands tall
Vander-Kuyp’s 110m hurdles record - set in 1995 - has now stood for 30 years.
While proud, he says he’s ready for the next generation to take it.
He’s now coaching emerging hurdler Tayleb Willis, who qualified for Paris 2024.
“Within 12 months of working together, he made the Olympics and now tells me every session, ‘I’m going for your record.’
"That’s what it’s about - passing on knowledge and pushing the next generation.”
Looking to Brisbane 2032
As Deputy Chef de Mission for the Paris Games, Vander-Kuyp also supported the 12 First Nations athletes representing Australia.
He says Brisbane 2032 is another chance to showcase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander excellence - both on and off the field.
“I hope we don’t just see Indigenous athletes, but also coaches, administrators, even officials.
Imagine an Aboriginal person starting the 100m final - that’d be huge. These Games are another opportunity to show the world our culture and talent.”
A personal moment
Beyond the medals and memories, Vander-Kuyp recalls a deeply personal Sydney 2000 story: the discovery that both his adoptive mum and biological mum were in the stands.
“I didn’t meet my biological mum until later, but found out she’d been there watching.
"I had both my mums in the crowd. That was really special - to share that Olympic moment with family, in the city where I was born.”
