Williams, Yvette (1929–)

views updated

Williams, Yvette (1929–)

New Zealand track-and-field athlete. Name variations: Yvette Corlett. Born April 25, 1929, in Dunedin, New Zealand; m. Buddy Corlett (basketball and softball player), 1954; children: 4.

At Empire Games, won gold medal for long jump (1950, 1954), discus (1954) and shot put (1954); at Helsinki, took 1st place in the long jump, the 1st New Zealand woman to win an Olympic gold medal (1952). Awarded MBE (1953); inducted into New Zealand Hall of Fame (1990).

About this article

Williams, Yvette (1929–)

Updated About encyclopedia.com content Print Article