An item of clothing has been handed to Victoria police by a Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) staff member, who received it anonymously.

On the night of the Opening Ceremony in September 2000, Freeman, who lit the Olympic Flame in one of the most iconic moments in Olympic history, was soaked while standing underneath a waterfall after a mechanical fault delayed the lighting of the Cauldron.

The 400 metres runner, who went on to win a gold medal at the Games, removed the suit after the Ceremony and it has not been seen since.

What happened to the suit has been the subject of much debate over the years as it is considered to be a major part of Australia's Olympic history.

Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) spokesman Mike Tancred said many believed the suit was either thrown out or stolen.

"This has been a case of enormous speculation over the last 14 years as to what happened to this one-off suit," he said.

"A great part of Australian sporting history vanished and we don't know if a cleaner threw it the bin thinking it was a wet old rag or whether someone stole it from that dressing room in Stadium Australia."

Cathy Freeman won the 400m gold medal at Sydney 2000 ©Getty Images



Describing the missing suit as a "great mystery", AOC secretary general Fiona de Jong said the Committee was "very hopeful" that the item of clothing was indeed Freeman's suit.

"It's a suit we never thought we'd see again," she said.

If the suit is real, it may become available for public viewing, however, the decision will ultimately lie with Freeman.

"I believe that's a matter for Cathy Freeman to choose," said De Jong.

"It's her suit."

The white suit worn by Cathy Freeman when she lit the Olympic Flame at Sydney 2000 had the Olympic Rings upside down, it has been revealed ©Getty Images

A police investigation is underway to confirm the authenticity of the suit, as well as the circumstances surrounding its disappearance and return.

The signs are good, however, after designer Jennifer Irwin revealed to the AOC that the original suit that Freeman wore actually had the Olympic Rings upside down.

Irwin told the AOC that she only received the measurements for the final Torchbearer at midnight the night before and she made a crucial mistake with the Olympic Rings.

This was then corrected in a replica that she made, however the MCC have confirmed to the AOC that the suit that was sent back anonymously did have the Rings upside down.

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