Today in History

1952 Yvette Williams leaps for gold at Helsinki

New Zealand's first female Olympic medallist, Yvette Williams (now Corlett) won gold in the long jump with an Olympic-record leap of 6.24 metres (20 feet 5 and 3/4 inches). Her triumph came 32 years after New Zealand's first female Olympian, swimmer Violet Walrond, competed in the 100 and 300 m at the 1920 Antwerp Games.

Thanks to amateur radio operators who were monitoring shortwave broadcasts from Britain, Australia, the United States and Finland, and preparing commentary of Olympic events, New Zealanders were able to stay up through the night and listen to Williams compete in the long jump.

Those watching Williams compete at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki or listening back home had an anxious wait. After leading the qualifying round with a jump of 6.16 m, in the final she recorded two no-jumps in a row. With only one more chance to stay in the running for a medal, she cleared 5.90 m on her third jump to make the top six, which gave her a crucial three extra jumps. Williams' fourth jump was perfect. As the figure of 6.24 m went up on the indicator board, New Zealanders in the crowd hastily consulted conversion tables. The jump measured 20 feet 5 and 3/4 inches, just half an inch off the world record then held by Francina ‘Fanny' Blankers-Koen of Holland. Williams had set a new Olympic record and won gold for New Zealand.

Sir Arthur Porritt, a former New Zealand Olympian and 1924 bronze medallist, presented Williams with her gold medal. The New Zealand flag was raised and the Finnish military band played first ‘God Save the Queen’ and then ‘God Defend New Zealand’. New Zealand supporters carried Williams shoulder-high from the stadium with a flag draped behind her. 

Back in the Olympic village, Williams received a telegram from her father: ‘Congratulations Chickie. Wonderful effort. Mighty proud of you.’ She reportedly replied that he should wait until Saturday (it was then Wednesday) to celebrate as she still had competing to do. The long jump was Williams' key event but she also competed in the shot put, finishing 6th, and the discus, finishing 10th.

Williams took a month-long holiday in Europe before returning to New Zealand, where she was fêted at public receptions in Auckland, Dunedin and throughout the South Island. It would be 40 years before New Zealand would celebrate another female Olympic gold medallist - windsurfer Barbara Kendall at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.

In 2002 Williams was the only New Zealand representative to attend the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Olympics. The celebrations involved a re-enactment of the opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, which remained much the same as it was in 1952. Williams received an ovation from the crowd in honour of her gold medal win. 

1851 The Maria wrecked near Cape Terawhiti

Twenty-six lives were lost when the barque Maria was wrecked near Cape Terawhiti, on Wellington's rugged south-western coast. The loss of life provided yet more ammunition for Wellington settlers who were trying to convince the government of the need for a lighthouse.

The Maria left Port Cooper (Lyttelton) for Port Nicholson on 22 July 1851 with a crew of 22 and six passengers. It had conveyed stock from Charles Clifford's sheep stations in the Wairarapa and Marlborough, and was returning with just a few casks of sperm oil as ballast. Four of the passengers were stockmen.

On nearing Port Nicholson (Wellington Harbour) the barque crossed a reef, and then, a few minutes later, struck a rock which pierced the hull. This was likely Thoms Rock, identified as the cause of other wrecks over the years, including that of the SS Penguin. The barque soon broke across the waist and then separated into two halves. It was about 400 metres from shore.

Those on board first tried to free a small boat, but the lowering mechanism gave way and it was smashed to pieces. Those not killed in this incident then salvaged material to use as rafts. Only two men eventually reached the shore safely. One was a Malay crew member, the other an ordinary seaman, Stewart, who had been at the wheel at the time of the accident. He had clung to a raft with others, but swam away as the breakers neared; the raft was smashed against the rocks, killing its other occupants.

Among the dead was the captain, who left a wife and three children, and two Canterbury settlers, G. P. Wallace and William Deans. William and his brother John Deans are remembered for establishing a flourishing sheep and cattle station in Canterbury.

Image: report of the wreck (PapersPast)