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STEPHEN WOOLDRIDGEOlympic cyclist Stephen Wooldridge has died aged 39. Wooldridge (above) competed for Australia at the Olympic Games Athens 2004 where he won gold alongside Bradley McGee, Luke Roberts, Graeme Brown, Peter Dawson and Brett Lancaster in the men’s team pursuit. He also won team pursuit gold medals at the 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006 world championships, as well as Commonwealth Games gold in 2002 and silver in 2006. HÉCTOR CARDONAHéctor Cardona, President of the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organisation (CASCO), has died at the age of 81. CASCO President since 2003, he was also President of the Puerto Rican NOC from 1991 to 2008 and an Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) Executive Council member from 1996 to 2014. STEFFI MARTINTwo-time Olympic luge champion Steffi Martin has died aged 54. Representing East Germany, Martin won gold at the Olympic Games Sarajevo 1984 and Calgary 1988 to underline her status as the leading female luger in the world during the 1980s. She also won world titles in 1983 and 1985 and was jointly crowned overall World Cup champion in 1983/84, along with compatriot Bettina Schmidt.Hein Verbruggen, IOC Honorary Member in the Netherlands, has died at the age of 75. A cycling fanatic and a true sports fan, Verbruggen was President of the International Cycling Union (UCI) from 1991 to 2005. He also headed the SportAccord Convention from 2003 to 2013.He joined the IOC in 1996 and became an Honorary Member in 2008. He headed the Evaluation Commission for the Olympic Games 2008 and then became Chairman of the Coordination Commission for the Olympic Games Beijing 2008. Verbruggen played an instrumental role in supporting the Organising Committee over the seven years of preparations, and hence contributed significantly to the success of the Games in Beijing. His efforts resulted in him being made an Honorary Citizen of Beijing in 2009.In recognition of his many years of service to the Olympic Movement, Verbruggen was awarded the Olympic Order in 2010.HEIN VERBRUGGENIOC HONORARY MEMBER WHO PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE ORGANISATION OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES BEIJING 2008 Betty Cuthbert, one of Australia’s greatest-ever Olympic athletes, has passed away aged 79. Cuthbert (above) burst onto the athletics scene as a little-known 18-year-old at the Olympic Games Melbourne 1956, having initially bought tickets to attend as a spectator in case she missed out on selection. She went on to become one of the stars of the Games by winning gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay.Injury denied her the chance to defend her titles in Rome four years later, but she came out of retirement to compete in the 400m at the Olympic Games Tokyo 1964, running a flawless race to become the first female Olympic champion in that event. Her achievements on the track were recognised in 2012 when she became an inaugural inductee into the IAAF Hall of Fame, while she was also among the final torchbearers during the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Sydney 2000.BETTYCUTHBERTAUSTRALIAN SPRINTER WHO WON THREE OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALS AT HER HOME GAMES IN MELBOURNE IN 1956OLYMPIC REVIEW 81OBITUARIES