AUSTRALIAN SWIMMING LEGEND Murray Rose has died at the age of 73 after a short battle with leukaemia.

Rose was a four-time Olympic medalist, and he claimed the 400m and 1500m double at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics aged 17, becoming the first person to win both of those events at a Games since Norman Ross in 1920.

He successfully defended his 400m title four years later in Rome, and took silver in the 1500m.

Rose ended his career with four Olympic gold medals, a silver and a bronze.

Rose was born in England on January 6, 1939, but moved to Australia with his family as a young boy.

David Urquhart, President of Swimming Australia, said his passing was a great loss for the sport.

“The name Murray Rose is synonymous with success in the sport of swimming, and his achievements in Melbourne in 1956 will go down as the stuff of legend,” Urquhart said.

“Murray Rose is part of the Swimming DNA in this country.

“His success inspired a generation and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and close friends during this difficult time.”

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