Australian track and field runner Natasha Ward has died suddenly. She was 21.
New South Wales Athletics and the Sutherland District Athletics Club announced the news in a joint statement shared to their Facebook pages on Thursday, July 30.
Ward’s cause of death has not been released.
“Beyond her kindness on the track, Natasha was a greatly loved member of our community,” the statement read. “Her kindness and joy touched everyone fortunate enough to know her, and her magnetic smile and warm personality have left a permanent mark on Australian athletics. Natasha’s enthusiasm and determination inspired her training partners.”
NSW Athletics touts itself as the “unified home of athletics in New South Wales,” uniting the track and field, cross country, race-walking communities and more. Ward medaled at the organization’s All Schools championship as a junior in 2022 in the 1500 meters before medaling at UniSport Nationals the next year in the same event. She also took the bronze in the 800m this past April.
“Natasha was an active member of the club, competing in both summer and winter relays each year, and was always willing to step in and help whenever a team was short,” the statement continued.
Ward was studying exercise and sports science at Macquarie University in Sydney, according to her LinkedIn profile.
“Natasha was an active member of the club, competing in both summer and winter relays each year, and was always willing to step in and help whenever a team was short,” Sutherland District Athletics Club added. “Our thoughts are with Natasha’s family, friends, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.”
The comments section on the SDAC post has been closed, but one community member wrote on NSWA’s post that Ward had helped her and her son as an employee at the Nike store in Birkenhead Point.
“She was incredibly knowledgeable, taking the time to explain the differences between all the track running shoes and helping us find the right pair for my son’s upcoming athletics season,” the commenter wrote.
She continued, “I’ll never forget coming down the escalator as she was heading up for her break. We smiled at each other as we passed, and her warmth and kindness were unforgettable. She truly had the most beautiful presence.”
Ward’s death came less than two months after Australian sprinter Jemma Stapleton died at age 25 in a motorcycle accident while on vacation with her family in Thailand. It was raining at the time of the crash, and Stapleton’s motorcycle reportedly slipped and went into traffic.
