Norma Williams MBE 1928-2017

On Tuesday 3rd October 2017 swimming icon Norma Williams MBE passed away.

Born in Auckland in 1928, Norma was educated at Takapuna Grammar School. She represented New Zealand at the 1950 British Empire Games where she won the silver medal as part of the women's 440 yard freestyle relay. She also finished fifth in the 110 yards freestyle individual event.



Norma won six national swimming titles: the 400 yards women's medley in 1948, 1949 and 1950; and the 100 yards women's butterfly in 1949, 1950 and 1951. Norma was a chaperone with the New Zealand team at the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games, and was appointed as a national swimming selector in 1978.

She also served as the president of the Auckland Amateur Sports Association.

In 1952 Norma married Clifford Williams. They had three children.

In 1996 Norma published a book, Between the Lanes, which chronicles the development of competitive swimming in New Zealand, She also wrote histories to mark the centennials of the New Zealand Swimming Federation in 1990 and the Auckland Swimming Association in 2006.

In the 1977 New Year Honours Norma Williams was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to swimming.