Who was Betty Cuthbert?
Betty Cuthbert was an Australian sprinter who won four Olympic gold medals. At the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, aged 18, she won three golds, and she won a fourth in the 400 metres at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
Cuthbert was born in Merrylands, Sydney, in 1938. She was known as the Golden Girl because of her blonde hair and her success.
At the 1956 Olympics, she won the 100 metres, the 200 metres and the 4x100 metres relay. Her performances made her a national hero.
Comeback and legacy
After injuries kept her out of the 1960 Olympics, she returned to win the 400 metres in Tokyo in 1964. She is the only athlete to win Olympic gold in the 100, 200 and 400 metres.
Later in life, Cuthbert was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She became an advocate for people with the disease.
At the Sydney 2000 Olympics, she was one of the torchbearers in the stadium, appearing in a wheelchair. She died in 2017. A statue of her stands at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.