Violet Walrond

Violet Walrond was a New Zealand swimmer and the first woman to represent the country at the Olympics. At the age of 15 Walrond swam in two events at the 1920 Antwerpen Olympics. Due to her age she had to be chaperoned by her father. Walrond reached the final of the 100 metres freestyle where she finished in fifth place. Walrond also reached the final of the 300 metres freestyle but she did not start the race after falling ill.

After the Olympics Walrond finished in third place in an 8 km swim in the River Thames in England. Waldron won the 100 yards freestyle at the Australian Swimming Union championships in Sydney. Walrond and her sister Edna were planning to compete at the 1924 Paris Olympics, but their father made them retire from the sport as he believed they were too much in the public eye. Waldron was only 18-years-old at the time.