The Australian Sports Commission joins the entire sporting community to pay tribute to Betty Cuthbert AM, MBE, who has passed away aged 79.
A four-time Olympic champion, Ms Cuthbert was a pioneer for Australian female sprinters and a true legend of track and field.
ASC Chair John Wylie said: “As one of the original Golden Girls, her legend will forever remain in our memories. Our deepest sympathies to her family and friends.”
ASC CEO Kate palmer said: “We are deeply saddened to learn of Betty’s passing. She represented a remarkable era in Australian sport and was an icon for female athletes and women’s sport everywhere.”
Cuthbert was the first Australian to become a triple Olympic gold medallist, winning three gold medals as an 18-year-old at the 1956 Melbourne Games in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay. She came out of athletic retirement to win the 400m at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. It completed an historic clean-sweep of all Olympic sprint events.
Ms Cuthbert was fittingly honoured when the Olympics returned to Australia, carrying the torch during the opening ceremony for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.