Revisiting The Best 400m Run On Grass In History Through "That Race"
Following on from the successful production of “Six”, in 2026 Fixon Media Group embarked on producing our second feature length documentary, “That Race” in association with the Victorian Athletic League.
The compelling narrative features Cathy Freeman, alongside her fellow 6 finalists of the 1996 Women’s 400m final at the Stawell Gift, sharing a reflection on what it meant to be part of the famous race.
Client:
Victorian Athletic League
Year:
2026
Location:
Victoria, Australia
The Story Behind The Documentary
That Race is a feature documentary that revisits one of the most unforgettable moments in Australian athletics, the 1996 Stawell Women’s 400m Final, famously won by Cathy Freeman.
Run under grey skies and relentless Easter Monday rain, Freeman lined up off scratch at Australia’s oldest and most storied footrace, giving her competitors handicaps of up to 42 metres.
Despite mid-race interference, she produced an extraordinary come-from-behind victory, surging past the field in the final straight to win in 50.48 seconds on grass.
The performance stunned the crowd and signalled the rise of an athlete destined for greatness. Later that year, Freeman claimed Olympic silver at the Atlanta Games and broke the Australian 400m record, before winning World Championship gold in 1997.
The documentary reunites the women who stood alongside Freeman on that start line. Through rare footage and first-hand accounts, the film revisits the tension, the mid-race contact, and the disbelief as the race unfolded.
More than a retelling of a result, That Race explores the lives and legacies of every finalist, the shared experience of that day, and how one race became inseparably linked to an Olympic journey and a defining chapter in Australian sporting history.
The Production Process
For a feature-length documentary, time is often the greatest asset in shaping a story with depth and care. In this case however, time was in short supply. The entire post-production process was required to be completed within a six-week window, placing significant pressure on the production schedule.
Despite the condensed timeline, the Fixon Media Group team recognised the significance of the story and committed fully to bringing it to life on screen.
Pre-production began in earnest during November and December 2025. Navigating the busy Christmas and New Year period, producers David Griffin, Matthew McDonough and Tim Cherry worked tirelessly behind the scenes to reconnect with the women involved in the historic race and coordinate filming schedules. Given the time that had passed and the geographic spread of those involved, careful planning and extensive communication were required to ensure everyone could be brought together for filming in early February 2026.
The principal day of filming took place at Melbourne’s home of athletics, Albert Park, where the production team captured the core interviews that would form the narrative backbone of the documentary. An additional filming day was conducted at the home of veteran journalist Jon Anderson, whose perspective provided important historical context and helped frame the significance of the event within the broader landscape of Australian athletics.
The Albert Park filming day also delivered one of the most powerful moments of the production. For the first time in almost 30 years, all of the women who competed in the race were reunited in the same place. What began as a scheduled interview quickly evolved into a genuine reunion, with memories, emotions and reflections flowing naturally between them. Capturing this moment on camera added an authenticity to the film that could never have been scripted, reinforcing the lasting impact of the race and the shared history between those who lived it.
Public Premiere & Reception
On March 10th, the official trailer for That Race was publicly released, receiving a strong and positive response from audiences following its debut. The trailer offered a first glimpse into the emotional depth of the documentary and the powerful stories shared by the women involved in the historic race.
Details regarding the film’s public premiere and future streaming availability will be announced in due course.
Moving Forward
The film’s impact extends far beyond its initial release. By revisiting a defining moment in Australian athletics history and bringing the voices of those involved back together after nearly three decades, the documentary offers audiences a powerful reflection on resilience, ambition and the enduring legacy of sport.
For many viewers, the story serves as both a tribute to the athletes who shaped that moment and an inspiration for future generations who will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible.
For Fixon Media Group, the project represents another step in the company’s commitment to producing emotionally driven sports documentaries that connect deeply with audiences. By focusing on the human stories behind the competition, the film demonstrates how powerful storytelling can transform historic sporting moments into narratives that resonate far beyond the track.