Just 15 years old, and the first woman to compete for New Zealand at an Olympic Games, the many challenges Violet Walrond faced in 1920 were not simply confined to the cold, murky canal waters of Antwerp.

The petite young swimmer from Auckland was one of just four athletes chosen in New Zealand's first official Olympic team, for the 7th Olympiad. Because of her age, she was only allowed to attend the Games if chaperoned by her father; and so Cecil Walrond travelled to Belgium as her coach and honorary trainer of the national team.

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Violet's Games History