![Betty Cuthbert. Picture: Michael Rayner. Right: Betty in 1955. Picture: Ern McQuillan Betty Cuthbert. Picture: Michael Rayner. Right: Betty in 1955. Picture: Ern McQuillan](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/35ns5Wme2fedmBqQ6qZE6iD/66cac061-f814-4d1b-a3cb-9f4d86d368f7.jpg/r0_0_1600_900_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Olympic champion Betty Cuthbert has died at the age of 79.
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The one-time world record holder died after a long battle with multiple sclerosis.
Cuthbert was a four-time Olympic gold medallist, winning three at the 1956 Melbourne games in the 100 metres, 200 metres and 4x100 metres relay events.
Cuthbert, who also won gold in the 400 metres at the Tokyo Olympics eight years later, was a torch bearer at the opening ceremony for the Sydney Olympic Games.
Cuthbert was born in Merrylands in Sydney's western suburbs, attending Ermington Public School where she developed an interest in athletics and an ambition to compete in the Olympics.
She made her Olympic debut at the 1956 Melbourne Games where she set a world record in the 200 metres.
She competed in the 1960 Rome Games but suffered an injury and was eliminated from the heats of the 100 metres, announcing her retirement from track and field shortly afterwards.
Cuthbert made her comeback at the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth before going to the 1964 Tokyo Games where she won her fourth Olympic gold medal.
She remains the only Olympian to have won a gold medal in all sprint events, being the 100, 200 and 400 metres.
She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1974 and dedicated much of her life towards raising awareness about the condition.
Tributes poured in for Cuthbert on Monday morning, with radio broadcaster Alan Jones describing her as a legend.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten tweeted that Cuthbert would always be a golden girl to Australians.
Peak body Athletics Australia extended sympathy to Cuthbert's friends and family.