Betty Cuthbert

Known to millions as The Golden Girl, Elizabeth "Betty" Cuthbert won two gold medals in the individual track sprints (100-200m) and a third one in the 400m-relay at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. In just nine days, she became a national hero at the age of 18.

Cuthbert set nine world records during her career, including three medals (two silver and a gold) won at the Commonwealth Games in 1958 and 62’ consecutively.

She is the only athlete in history to win the 100, 200 and 400m at the Olympics. In 1964, the Australian sprinting legend sealed her career with a victory in the 400m final in Tokyo. Four-time Olympic gold medalist retired from athletics after the Olympics.

She later was afflicted with multiple sclerosis, having first been diagnosed with that disease in 1969. She fought with it until her passing in 2017.

PERSONAL BESTS
60m: 7.2
100m: 11.40
200m: 23.20
400m: 52.01

TRIVIA
♦ She met with her coach June Ferguson at school, the 1948 Olympian who guided Betty to Olympic journey.
♦ After her retirement, the Olympic legend worked in the family nursery.
♦ Cuthbert was honored to be the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her services to athletics in New South Wales, Australia in 1984.
♦ She was inducted as a legend in the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1994.
♦ Named as the Australian National Treasure in 1998 and the Athletics Australia Hall of Fame in 2000.
♦ At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, aided by a wheelchair, she was a torchbearer at the Sydney Olympic Opening Ceremony in 2000.
♦ Cuthbert's funeral was held on 16 August 2017, and her body was cremated.
♦ Her bronze statue stands outside the Melbourne Cricket Ground. (Unveiled in 2018)

♦ Books on her:
Golden Girl by Jim Webster
Golden Girl - The Autobiography, by Betty Cuthbert

 
Text by Evren Ozuyener