Betty Cuthbert

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexFemale
Full nameElizabeth Alyse "Betty"•Cuthbert
Used nameBetty•Cuthbert
Nick/petnamesThe Golden Girl
Born20 April 1938 in Merrylands, New South Wales (AUS)
Died6 August 2017 in Mandurah, Western Australia (AUS)
Measurements169 cm / 57 kg
AffiliationsWestern Suburbs AAC, Sydney (AUS)
NOC Australia
Medals OG
Gold 4
Silver 0
Bronze 0
Total 4

Biography

Australian Elizabeth “Betty” Cuthbert won two gold medals in the individual track sprints (100 and 200 metres) and a third gold in the 400 metre relay at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. The 18-year-old was instantly acclaimed as a national heroine by the home Australian crowd, and was nicknamed the “Golden Girl”. Injury prevented her from doing well at the 1960 Games but she came back to win the 400 metres in 1964 at Tokyo and claim her fourth Olympic gold medal, which she regarded as her greatest win. She is the only Olympic sprinter, man or woman, to have won gold medals in the 100 metres, 200 metres, and 400 metres.

At the British Empire and Commonwealth Games she won a gold medal in the 4×110 yards relay (with Joyce Bennett and the non-Olympians Brenda Cox and Glenys Beasley) in 1962 and silver medals in the 220 yards as well as in the 4×110 yards relay (with Marlene Mathews-Willard and the non-Olympians Kay Johnson and Wendy Hayes) in 1958. In the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games 100 yards Cuthbert finished fourth and in the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games 220 yards she finished fifth, but in the 100 yards she was eliminated in the semi-finals. She set or equalled 18 world records between 1956 and 1964 over 60 metres, 100 yards, 220 yards, 400 metres, and in the 4×100 and 4×220 relays.

In 1964 she was awarded the prestigious Helms Award for her contributions to sport. Sadly for such a fine athlete, she later was afflicted with multiple sclerosis, having first been diagnosed with that disease in 1969. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, aided by a wheelchair, she was one of several Australian women who carried the Olympic Flag at the Opening Ceremony.

Personal Bests: 100 – 11.4 (1956); 200 – 23.1y (1960); 400 – 52.01 (1964).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1956 Summer Olympics Athletics AUS Betty Cuthbert
100 metres, Women (Olympic) 1 Gold
200 metres, Women (Olympic) 1 Gold
4 × 100 metres Relay, Women (Olympic) Australia 1 Gold
1960 Summer Olympics Athletics AUS Betty Cuthbert
100 metres, Women (Olympic) 4 h4 r2/4
200 metres, Women (Olympic) DNS
4 × 100 metres Relay, Women (Olympic) Australia DNS
1964 Summer Olympics Athletics AUS Betty Cuthbert
400 metres, Women (Olympic) 1 Gold
4 × 100 metres Relay, Women (Olympic) Australia DNS

Special Notes