Frances Crampton
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Frances Tonia Crampton AM (7 December 1945 – 8 May 2025) was an Australian gymnastics coach and official and leading Australian sport administrator.
Personal life and death
Crampton was born and grew up in Perth, Western Australia and trained under her Hungarian physical education teacher.[1] She retired from competitive gymnastics when started training as a physical education teacher and coach.[1] She became interested in rhythmic gymnastics and was appointed its first national director.[1] She taught physical education and coached gymnastics in Perth and Melbourne.[1]
From 1970 to 1985, she was the Australian Gymnastic Federation Women's Artistic Technical Director.[1] In 1984, she resigned from her Melbourne teaching position to become the Australian Institute of Sport Women's Artistic and Rhythmic Coordinator. She left the position in 1987 when appointed CEO of Gymnastics New South Wales, a position she held until 2000. She was Gymnastics NSW State Coordinator of "Fitter for Life" from 2019.
In 1972, she the first Australian woman to become an internationally licensed judge.[1] She represented Australia at five Olympic Games from 1976 and five Commonwealth Games in roles ranging from team manager to commentator and production manager.[1][2]
Crampton was a Gymnastics Australia Board Member from 2012 to 2016. She was made a Life Member of Gymnastics Australia.[3]
Crampton was born in Perth on 7 December 1945 to Francis Robert Hesleden (Rob) Binney and Jeanne Stella Play.[4] She was married to sport psychologist John Crampton. She was a civil celebrant.[5]
Frances Crampton died after a long battle with cancer on 8 May 2025, at the age of 79.[2]