Famed journalist and columnist Rebecca Wilson has passed away this morning of breast cancer. The mother of two was 54.

Wilson was married to former CEO of News Corp John Hartigan who announced her death this morning in a public statement.

The statement read: “Our amazing Bec lost her long battle against breast cancer early today. She passed away peacefully in the family home in Sydney while surrounded by her loved ones.

“Courage has always been a significant part of her DNA, no less in her desperate battle against her insidious disease. Rebecca kept knowledge of her illness a closely guarded secret.

“The majority of her friends, colleagues and indeed members of her family were unaware of the extent of her illness. She did so to limit their suffering. We are so proud that she was so fearless in her chosen role as a sports journalist. She brushed aside evil trolls, bullies and organised crime figures to prosecute her craft. She proved that women had an equally important role in sports journalism as her male counterparts.”

Wilson was famed for her fearless sports reporting with a focus on issues off the field rather than on. She was a regular columnist for News Corp and appeared regularly on TV and radio.