Averil Williams
{{Short description|British athlete (1935–2019)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Averil Williams
| image =
| caption =
| nationality = British (English)
| sport = Athletics
| event = Javelin throw
| club = Lozells Harriers
Blue Coat AC (Hereford)
| birth_date = {{birth date|1935|3|19|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Essex, England
| death_date = {{death date and age|2019|12|16|1935|3|19|df=yes}}{{cite web|url = https://www.welshathletics.org/en/blog/post/obituary-averil-m-williams|title = Obituary - Averil M. Williams|last = Harries|first = Lynette|date = 2 March 2020|publisher = Welsh Athletics|access-date = 23 March 2020}}
| death_place =
| height =171 cm
| weight =69 kg
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport | Athletics}}
{{MedalCountry | {{ENG}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|British Empire & Commonwealth Games}}
{{MedalBronze| 1958 Cardiff|javelin}}
}}
Averil Muriel Williams (19 March 1935 – 16 December 2019) was a British athlete who competed at the 1960 Summer Olympics.{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/wi/averil-williams-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418042816/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/wi/averil-williams-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2020 |title=Averil Williams Olympic Results |accessdate=17 January 2018}}
Biography
Williams finished third behind Doris Orphall in the javelin throw event at the 1956 WAAA Championships.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004941/19560812/285/0012 |title=Girl of 19 beats world record |work=Sunday Express |date=12 August 1956 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=19 February 2025 }} The following year she became the national javelin champion after winning the British WAAA Championships title at the 1957 WAAA Championships{{cite web|url=https://www.nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm |title=AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists |website=National Union of Track Statisticians |access-date=19 February 2025}} and successfully retained the title at the 1958 WAAA Championships.{{cite web|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/waaa.htm |title=AAA Championships (women) |website=GBR Athletics |access-date=19 February 2025 }}
One month later, Williams represented England and won a bronze medal in the javelin at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Wales.{{cite web|url=https://thecgf.com/results/athletes/41317|title=Athletes and results|publisher=Commonwealth Games Federation}}{{cite web|url=https://teamengland.org/commonwealth-games-history/cardiff-1958/athletes|title=1958 Athletes|publisher=Team England}}
After finishing second behind Sue Platt at the 1960 WAAA Championships{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004941/19600703/963/0024 |title=Girls shine amid the bungling |work=Sunday Express |date=3 July 1960 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=22 February 2025 }} she represented Great Britain at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, competing in the women's javelin throw competition.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/68814 |title=Biographical Information |website=Olympedia |access-date=19 February 2025}}
Williams continued to compete for several years and finished second behind Ameli Koloska in the javelin event at the 1965 WAAA Championships{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004941/19650704/689/0024 |title=Results |work=Sunday Express |date=4 July 1965 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription| access-date=1 March 2025 }} and third behind Sue Platt at the 1969 WAAA Championships.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002137/19690720/327/0035 |title=Hyman Back In Glory |work=Sunday Mirror |date=20 July 1969 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=5 March 2025 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Footer New Zealand NC javelin women}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Averil}}
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1960 Summer Olympics
Category:British female javelin throwers
Category:Welsh female javelin throwers
Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain
Category:Sportspeople from Essex
Category:Commonwealth Games medallists in athletics
Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for England
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games
Category:Medallists at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
Category:New Zealand Athletics Championships winners
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