Australian sprinter Daniel Batman dies in car crash

Australian sprinter Daniel Batman, who competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympics and was considered one of the best sprinters in his country’s history, was killed Tuesday in a car accident near Darwin, Australia. He was 31.

Batman’s car hit a culvert and rolled. Police say speed and alcohol are believed to have been factors.

Batman was the Australian national 200-meter champion in 2005 and 2008.

“It’s a massive loss for the athletics fraternity,” Matt Shirvington, Batman’s former training partner, told Australia’s SEN radio. “We’ve had faster sprinters but he would be the best all-round sprinter we’ve had.”

Batman recently failed in an attempt to qualify for the London Olympics.

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