A major grandstand will be renamed in honour of Cathy Freeman at the stadium where she lit the 2000 Olympic flame and later claimed gold in one of the nation’s greatest sporting moments.

The NSW government on Friday announced the eastern grandstand at Accor Stadium in Sydney Olympic Park would officially become the Cathy Freeman Stand.

It followed a public nomination process in which people were asked to name a female sporting hero whose name could be attached to the stand.

Friday was the 23rd anniversary of the day Freeman lit the flame at the 2000 Sydney Olympics opening ceremony at the stadium.

Ten days later, she won the women’s 400-metre final at the venue, famously completing a victory lap holding both the Australian and Aboriginal flags in front of a crowd of more than 110,000 supporters.

It was the most-watched TV event in the country’s history before it was supplanted by the Matildas’ World Cup semi-final showdown with England at the same stadium last month.

Freeman said she was “deeply honoured and humbled” to be permanently recognised at a stadium that held a special place in her heart.

“This is such an incredible day today. I am so honoured. I am almost speechless,” she said.

“I hope that my story continues to inspire generations of girls and boys to chase their own dreams in sport and life.”

Tweet from @CathyFreeman

Premier Chris Minns said it was about time a NSW grandstand was named after a woman and he could not think of a better candidate than the Indigenous sporting star.

“Everybody remembers where they were when Cathy Freeman produced her historic 400-metre race to win gold for Australia at the Sydney Olympics,” he said.

“I want the next generation of young girls to watch sport at this stadium, looking up at the Cathy Freeman Stand, thinking about their own sporting dreams.”

– AAP