{{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/Welsh) | sport = Athletics | event = Javelin throw | club = Lozells Harriers<br>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}}<ref name="Obituary">{{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}}</ref> | 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.<ref name="SportsRef">{{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}}</ref>
== Biography == Williams finished third behind Doris Orphall in the javelin throw event at the 1956 WAAA Championships.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> The following year she became the national javelin champion after winning the British WAAA Championships title at the 1957 WAAA Championships<ref>{{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}}</ref> and successfully retained the title at the 1958 WAAA Championships.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/waaa.htm |title=AAA Championships (women) |website=GBR Athletics |access-date=19 February 2025 }}</ref>
One month later, Williams represented England<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19580612/117/0020 |title=Marion jumps into Games |work=Daily Mirror |p=20 |date=12 June 1958 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=28 September 2025}}</ref> and won a bronze medal in the javelin at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Wales.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thecgf.com/results/athletes/41317|title=Athletes and results|publisher=Commonwealth Games Federation}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://teamengland.org/commonwealth-games-history/cardiff-1958/athletes|title=1958 Athletes|publisher=Team England}}</ref>
After finishing second behind Sue Platt at the 1960 WAAA Championships<ref>{{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 }}</ref> she represented Great Britain at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, competing in the women's javelin throw competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/68814 |title=Biographical Information |website=Olympedia |access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref>
Williams continued to compete for several years and finished second behind Ameli Koloska in the javelin event at the 1965 WAAA Championships<ref>{{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 }}</ref> and third behind Sue Platt at the 1969 WAAA Championships.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>
In 1970 she competed for Wales at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.<ref name="Obituary"/>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Footer New Zealand NC javelin women}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Averil}} Category:1935 births Category:2019 deaths Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1960 Summer Olympics Category:British women javelin throwers Category:English women javelin throwers Category:Welsh women javelin throwers Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain Category:Sportspeople from Essex 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 Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists in athletics