Daniel-Batman-Obituary

Daniel Batman

Obituary

DARWIN, Australia (AP) - Former Australian runner Daniel Batman, who competed at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and was considered one of the country's best all-time sprinters, was killed Tuesday in a single-car accident in the Northern Territory.

Police said Wednesday that a car driven by the 31-year-old Batman left the Arnhem Highway near a bridge. Wreckage of his car, strewn over 100 meters along the highway, was discovered several hours later by a passing motorist.

Batman was once married to fellow Olympic sprinter and Australia field hockey player Nova Peris. They had two children. He was reported to have been visiting his children shortly before the accident.

Batman, who separated from Peris in 2010 and divorced in 2011, competed over 100, 200 and 400 meters.

Former Australian sprinter Matt Shirvington said on Twitter: "100m - 10.19s, 200m - 20.44s, 400m - 45.02s. Daniel Batman was the best all-round sprinter Australia has ever seen. R est in peace, mate."

"It's a massive loss for the athletics fraternity," Shirvington told a Melbourne radio station later Wednesday. "He was an amazing athlete. We've had faster sprinters but if you look at it across the board he would be the best."

A former Australian schoolboy rugby representative, Batman temporarily quit athletics to try a career with the Super 15's ACT Brumbies but didn't advance from their training squad.

Batman had a new partner, Natalie Sainsbury, and they had a child together last year.

Former coach Tudor Bidder remembered Batman as "very much a family man" who put his kids first.

"Thirty-one, it's not an age to be losing your life," Bidder said. "But he had quite a lot of life inside those few years."


Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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RIP, mate

I ADMIRED YOU AND I WILL REMEMBER YOU MY HEROE... XXX MY DEEP CONDOLENCES FOR ALL YOUR FAMILY & CLOSE FRIENDS.. CARLOS CARRERA FROM CHILE...

My thoughts and prayers are with Daniels family,children and wife in this devastating time.At least we can all rejoice in the knowledge that we were lucky enough to have known him.RIP beautiful boy xxx

Although i hadnt seen you for a long time you were always special to me.Rest in peace now beautiful boy and i'll catch you on the flipside xx

Please accept my deepest sympathies.

Dan has gone too soon. But he will live on in our hearts and memories until we see him in the resurrection later. Then an embrace from Dan will remove all our pain from his loss.

To my dear sister-in-law my brother and her family...We are all deeply shocked by the news of Dans passing.......We send our love to you Em and your family.......Narelle Steve and kids XX

RIP Dan..you were a great man