Jemma Stapleton, a 25-year-old Victorian sprinter and 2025 Stawell Gift finalist, has died while on holiday overseas with her family. A fundraising page created for the Stapleton family quickly surged past its $100,000 goal as tributes began flowing from her partner, brother and local sporting clubs.
The online page, created on Thursday and approved by the family, said the Stapletons were facing “unmeasurable grief” after the loss of their daughter, sister and partner Jemma. It said the money was intended to help ease financial pressure so the family could grieve together and spend time together as they try to navigate the loss.
Stapleton had built a reputation in Victorian athletics and was among the finalists at the 2025 Stawell Gift, one of the sport’s best-known sprint races. Her death immediately prompted attention from across the local sporting community, with tributes highlighting both her talent on the track and the reach of the family’s grief beyond athletics.
Her brother, Joel, wrote on Instagram that he loved her so much, would forever miss her and hoped to make her proud, calling her his best friend and best sister. Tyler Gray, who described Stapleton as the single greatest thing to happen to him, said he could not put into words the hurt he was feeling. A tribute from Lysterfield junior football club said its thoughts were with Stapleton, her family, friends and all those who loved her.
The fundraising page shared by her brother said she had “tragically lost her life in an accident,” but the cause of death had not yet been disclosed. That leaves the central question surrounding her death unanswered even as support for her family keeps growing, with the appeal already well beyond its initial target and public condolences continuing to spread online.
