Tributes roll in after death of ‘golden girl’ of British athletics

Donna Hartley-Wass, a 400m runner, won two gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in Canada in 1978 and a bronze at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

The former athlete, who competed under her maiden name Donna Murray, was also made an MBE by the Queen in 1979.

Mrs Hartley-Wass was just 58 years old when, on Friday, she died suddenly while sunbathing in her garden.

She was found dead by her husband, actor and comedian Robert Wass, who goes by the stage name Bobby Knutt.

Former athlete Sally Gunnell was one of those to pay their respects to Mrs Hartley-Wass on Twitter, writing: “Sad news about Donna Hartley, former golden girl of GB athletics. Very sad.”

Fellow Olympian Tessa Sanderson said: “We shared some great laughs and was great mates in 70s and 80s GB team. RIP.”

Mrs Hartley-Wass’s former coach, Mike Smith, said she was “tremendously dedicated” and added: “For a period in the mid 1970’s she carried the mantle for British women’s athletics, and was truly the golden girl, with her long blond hair and fluid running style.”

“Donna achieved an incredible amount, not just in athletics but in life itself. Our thoughts and condolences are with her husband, Bobby.”

Mrs Hartley-Wass first competed for her country at the age of just 17, as the youngest member of Great Britain’s team at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

She won 400m and 4x400m gold at the Commonwealth Games in Canada in 1978, before winning a bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Moscow two years later.

She married fellow athlete Bill Hartley in 1977, but the relationship ended in divorce. She met Knutt in 1984 and they married three years later in Sheffield.

A post-mortem examination was due to take place yesterday.