# Averil Williams
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{{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](/source/Sport_of_Athletics)
| event = Javelin throw
| club = Lozells Harriers
Blue Coat AC (Hereford)
| birth_date = {{birth date|1935|3|19|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [Essex](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Commonwealth_Games)}}
{{MedalBronze| [1958 Cardiff](/source/1958_British_Empire_and_Commonwealth_Games)|[javelin](/source/Athletics_at_the_1958_British_Empire_and_Commonwealth_Games)}}
}}
'''Averil Muriel Williams''' (19 March 1935 – 16 December 2019) was a British [athlete](/source/Sport_of_athletics) who competed at the [1960 Summer Olympics](/source/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](/source/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](/source/List_of_British_champions_in_javelin_throw) after winning the British [WAAA Championships](/source/WAAA_Championships) title at the [1957 WAAA Championships](/source/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](/source/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](/source/England_at_the_1958_British_Empire_and_Commonwealth_Games)[{{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}}] and won a bronze medal in the javelin at the [1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games](/source/1958_British_Empire_and_Commonwealth_Games) in [Cardiff](/source/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](/source/Sue_Platt) at the [1960 WAAA Championships](/source/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](/source/Great_Britain_at_the_1960_Summer_Olympics) at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, competing in the [women's javelin throw competition](/source/Athletics_at_the_1960_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Women's_javelin_throw).[{{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](/source/Ameli_Koloska) in the javelin event at the [1965 WAAA Championships](/source/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](/source/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 }}]
In 1970 she competed for [Wales at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games](/source/Wales_at_the_1970_British_Commonwealth_Games) in Edinburgh.