Fleming was part of the Australian women's 4x100 metres relay team that set two world records when winning Olympic Games gold in Melbourne in 1956.

Alongside Betty Cuthbert, Shirley Strickland and Fleur Mellor, Fleming set a world record 44.9sec in their heat before clocking 44.5 to take gold ahead of Britain in the final.

Fleming became Queensland's first Olympic gold medallist, as the quartet also secured a first track and field relay title for Australia.

She finished fourth in the 200m final before competing at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, where the relay team was disqualified in its heat.

Fleming also took part in the long jump, finishing 15th in Rome.

"Norma was greatly admired by her team-mates and that relay team in Melbourne was quite extraordinary," said AOC President John Coates, who described Fleming as a modest athlete.

"It was a different time, with Norma a devoted school-teacher and mother beyond her short sprinting career.

"She also took the time and trouble to take her stories and her medal around Queensland schools to inspire young people to be their best.

"Norma will be missed by so many of her friends and team-mates from that wonderful era," Coates concluded.

Team-mate Marlene Mathews recalled Fleming's spirit in paying tribute to the track star.

"She was a fighter," said Matthews.

"She never gave in. 

"It really is a true story that Norma's husband Lloyd promised he'd marry her, if she beat me in the Olympic selection trials ahead of the Melbourne Games. 

"And, of course she did and they married.

"I remember Norma as a happy-go-lucky person and such a great friend."