Australian sprinter Jemma Stapleton has died at the age of 25 following a motorcycle crash on the Thai island of Koh Samui while holidaying with her family.
The fatal incident took place on Wednesday afternoon on Highway 4169, with police releasing CCTV footage showing the moments before the collision.
The recording captured Stapleton’s motorcycle losing grip on the road surface before falling and sliding into the path of an approaching vehicle in the opposite lane.
Her body was discovered beneath a Subaru driven by a 38-year-old Russian man, having been thrown more than 20 metres along the road by the impact.
Jemma Stapleton (far right) was one of Australia’s top talents in sprinting
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Surat Thani provincial police chief Pol Maj Gen Suwat Suksri confirmed that persistent rainfall at the time of the 3.45pm crash created treacherous conditions on the curved stretch of road in tambon Bo Put.
Investigators believe the slippery surface caused Stapleton to lose control while navigating the bend, with her motorcycle sliding into oncoming traffic where a violent collision occurred.
Her family members had been travelling on separate motorcycles directly behind her and witnessed the tragedy unfold.
A Honda City driven by a 27-year-old Thai woman was also present at the scene of the three-vehicle incident.
Stapleton, a Melbourne native, achieved a notable third-place finish in the 2025 Powercor Women’s Gift at the prestigious Stawell Gift, Australia’s oldest professional footrace, and had qualified for this year’s final.
Jemma Stapleton’s partner Tyler Gray posted a heartbreaking statement on social media
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Her younger brother Joel described her as his “best friend” in a tribute to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. “I’m so lucky to have had her guiding me through my first 21 years,” he said. “Her smile was so bright that wherever she went, you knew she was there.”
Partner Tyler Gray wrote on Instagram: “I can’t put into words the hurt I am feeling. You are the single greatest thing to happen to me.”
The Stawell Gift organisation paid tribute to Stapleton’s “talent, dedication and passion for the sport of professional running” in a statement offering condolences to her loved ones.
A GoFundMe campaign established to assist the family with bringing her home surpassed $100,000 in donations within 24 hours before being closed.
The family expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support, stating that Stapleton “would have been absolutely overwhelmed to see her community come together in this way.”
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it is providing consular assistance to the family, who have requested privacy as they navigate their grief.
Stapleton had celebrated her 25th birthday on 1 June.