Marie-José Pérec On 21 September 2000, French athlete Marie-José Pérec fled the Olympic village without competing in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Pérec claimed that she had been threatened and insulted several times since arriving in Australia and that the Australian press, who were supporting Australian athlete Cathy Freeman, had been trying to sabotage her … Continue reading On this day (Australia): In 2000, French athlete Marie-José Pérec fled the Sydney Olympic village claiming threats and insults