Youngest Athlete Pipped at the Post

An item on the television news last night surprised members of the 1974 Commonwealth Games swimming team in which thirteen-year old diver Gabrielle Armstrong-Scott was named as New Zealand’s youngest ever Commonwealth Games athlete.

Monique Williams (nee Rodahl) was a swimmer at the Christchurch Games and saw the item on the sports news last night. She had been just 13 years, six months and 25 days when the games kicked off in 1974. This makes her six months younger than Gabrielle will be in Delhi at 14 years and thirty-four days old.

“I thought to myself, that’s not right,” said Williams. “While my sister said I should contact the NZOC I wasn’t so concerned.”

However the New Zealand Olympic Committee was alerted to the news today after receiving a phone call from another member of the 1974 swim team.

New Zealand Olympic Committee Communications Manager Ashley Abbott said she was thankful for the updated information. “We’ve contacted both Monique and Gabrielle who have been very understanding of the situation,” she said. “Olympic and Commonwealth Games history is very important and we certainly seek to avoid errors. We appreciate the input from members of the public and New Zealand sports who can provide correct historic information.”