Olympics: NZ women's gold club membership expands to five

By TERRY MADDAFORD


For 40 years Yvette Williams was New Zealand's only woman Olympic gold medallist.

Early yesterday she took special pride in watching Sarah Ulmer take those golden moments to four.

For Ulmer's first six years at Diocesan School in Auckland, Williams (now Corlett) was her physical education teacher.

"We didn't have cycling at the school then but I clearly remember Sarah as a good allrounder," said Corlett yesterday.

"I had quite a lot to do with her. It was a great thrill watching her. I had tears in my eyes when I saw her on the dais."

Unlike that day 52 years ago, the national anthem had just rung out for Ulmer as the New Zealand flag was raised.

"When I won they played God Save the Queen and then God Defend New Zealand."

That took time - but so did Corlett's long-jump competition as she beat 34 challengers from 22 countries.

"I can still remember a group of New Zealanders doing a haka in the stands and then coming down on to the track to carry me off shoulder-high with a New Zealand flag draped around my shoulders. That wouldn't happen today."

For 75-year-old Corlett, the double victory celebrations for Ulmer and the Evers-Swindell twins have been a much-needed pick-me-up, as she has been unwell with a chest infection for a month.

"But that didn't stop me watching. I watched both the rowing and the cycling as they happened. I sent an email off to Caroline and Georgina and Sarah congratulating them.

"My son said I was a bit premature in sending Sarah a message after she had broken the world record but in it I said, 'We will celebrate your gold medal tomorrow'. Thankfully, I was right."

As the longest-standing judge of the Herald's Junior Sports Awards, Corlett has seen many of our best young sportsmen and women.

Ulmer and 2000 single sculls gold medallist Rob Waddell were among the five winners of 1993. They were presented with their awards by one of New Zealand's greatest women competitors, Dame Susan Devoy.

Joining Corlett, Ulmer and the Evers-Swindells as Olympic golden girls is Barbara Kendall, who won the boardsailing at Barcelona in 1992.

HONOUR BOARD

New Zealand's women silver and bronze medallists:

* Silver: Vicky Latta, three-day eventing team (equestrian) 1992; Leslie Egnot/Jan Shearer, 470 (yachting) 1992; Sally Clark, three-day eventing individual (equestrian) 1996; Barbara Kendall, boardsailing (yachting) 1996.

* Bronze: Jean Stewart, 100m backstroke (swimming) 1952; Marise Chamberlain, 800m (athletics) 1964; Tinks Pottinger, Marges Knighton, three-day eventing team (equestrian) 1988; Lynley Hannen/Nicola Payne, coxless pair (rowing) 1988; Lorraine Moller, marathon (athletics) 1992; Latta, three-day eventing team (equestrian) 1996; Kendall, boardsailing 2000.