By Paul Osborne

A memorabilia piece built around the remarkable feat of Australian sprinter Betty Cuthbert at the 1962 Perth Empire Games is set to be auctioned ©Getty ImagesA unique memorabilia set built around the remarkable feat of Australian sprinter Betty Cuthbert at the Perth 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games is set to be auctioned.

The framed piece marks the incredible come-from-behind victory accomplished by Cuthbert when running anchor for the Australian 4x110 yard relay team at the Games.

England was leading by five yards coming in to the final baton change, however, Betty Moore started her run too early and had to stop almost dead before receiving the baton.

That cost England dearly as Cuthbert caught Moore two yards from the finish.

The memorabilia set, built around a Cuthbert feat regarded as one of the mightiest performances in Australian athletics history, is expected to raise at least $40,000 (£23,746/€29,321) at auction to help fund the Australian team as they get set to travel to Glasgow for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, according to Australian newspaper, The Weekend West.

The set includes a piece of original timber from Perry Lakes Stadium, where the event was held, the original Australian team blazer, a signed photo of Cuthbert in the race crossing the finish line and a signed athletics programme from the Games.

The winner of the auction will also get a copy of the original footage of the 4x110 yard relay.

Betty Cuthbert is considered one of Australia's best ever athletes having won four Olympic gold medals throughout her career including 100m gold at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics ©Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesBetty Cuthbert is considered one of Australia's best ever athletes having won four Olympic gold medals throughout her career including 100m gold at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics ©Hulton Archive/Getty Images


Cuthbert is considered by many one of the greatest Australian athletes of all time having won four Olympic gold medals in the 100 meters, 200m, 400m and 4x100m relay.

Her first three gold medals, in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m, came at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne.

Despite retiring after a disappointing 1960 Olympics in Rome, Cuthbert returned to the  Olympic scene at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, securing gold in the 400m, the first time women could compete in the event, and becoming the only Olympian, male or female, to have won gold in the 100m, 200m and 400m events.

The auction for the Cuthbert piece will be held at The Farewell Luncheon for the 2014 Australian Commonwealth Games team at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre on June 27.

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