Spotlight on Kathy Williams OLY

We are proud to share this article, which was first published on the British Gymnastics website last month, as part of their Black History Month series. Learn more about our Director and co-founder Kathy Williams OLY and her incredible journey.

Black History Month: Spotlight on Kathy Williams

In 1984 Kathy Williams became the first black gymnast to represent Britain at an Olympic Games.

Today, as part of Black History Month, we’re looking back at the story of Kathy Williams who made history in 1984. When she took to the competition floor in Los Angeles, Kathy became the first black gymnast to be selected for and compete at an Olympic Games for Great Britain.

At the Moscow ’80 Games, four years earlier, Kathy had realised her dream of being selected, but due to injury had to withdraw.

Although disappointed, that soon turned to motivation, and it paid dividends when she made the GBR team for L.A: “I was totally gutted to miss the Olympic Games in 1980 having been the youngest female GB gymnast to be selected. I was determined to be a member of the GB team in 1984. My mind was set.”

Walking out at the Olympic Games representing your country, is one that few get to experience. It’s an experience that Kathy remembers all too well. The pain of four years earlier was soon forgotten:

“Competing at the Olympic Games is a life changing and most joyous and memorable experience; one of the proudest times for myself, my coaches, family, friends and fans.

“I remember the competition, and our competitors. We were shoulder-to-shoulder with the giants of gymnastics at the time; the Russians, Romanians and the Chinese. I met team USA track and field athletes Carl Lewis and Ed Moses and Team GB track and field athlete, Daley Thompson and many more. I remember the warm and generous welcome from the American people.”

It all started for Kathy at the age of 10 when she attended an after-school gymnastics club at her primary school, Stanley Grove in Manchester.

From that moment, the challenge of the sport was one she always enjoyed. Thanks to support from her teachers and coaches, Kathy had success at both interschool and regional competitions, and with that her motivation continued to increase.

Kathy was also amazed by the performances from some of the world’s very best gymnasts:

“I was inspired by Olga Korbut in the 1972 Munich Olympics. The Games were televised and thereafter I had a vision that I too, one day, would compete at an Olympic Games. Both Olga and Nadia Comaneci were inspirational gymnasts.”

With that, she began dedicating more and more time to the sport, and as well as her appearance at the Olympic Games, there were several other stand-out moments Kathy enjoyed during her career.

Kathy would go on to become an exceptional gymnast, known for her speed, strength and grace:

“At my peak, I was training sometimes twice a day, 6/7 days a week a minimum of 4.5 hours a day, plus conditioning. I particularly enjoyed competing on floor, because I loved to dance. On the vault, I was able to fly twisting and somersaulting through the air from a height.

“I won the Daily Mirror Russian Scholarship which entitled me to one month’s training in Moscow where I was dubbed ‘the Black Tulip’, and I also won the Champions Cup. Both of these were huge national competitions - I took everyone by surprise and I kept my cool.”

That would then lead to the L.A Games, three World Championship appearances, the Senior European Championships, the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane and finally the World Student Games in 1987.

Even now, Kathy loves the individual creative expression, the artistry, courage and strength of gymnastics. Kathy still keeps in touch with those that she shared so many memories with:

“I have life-long friends from the sport of gymnastics and it is amazing that three quarters of the women’s Olympic team meet up each year, for socials, or at gymnastics competitions. Some of us have even been on holiday together.”

Gymnastics has been the inspiration behind Kathy becoming the Director of RJC Dance in Leeds, which is the leading, award winning, inclusive black dance organisation in the North of England, and will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2023.

Our thanks go to Kathy and to those at www.gymnasticshistory.co.uk for helping to put this story together.