New Zealand middle-distance runner
Marise Chamberlain
Chamberlain at the 1964 Olympics
Born 5 December 1935 (1935-12-05 ) (age 88)Christchurch , New Zealand Height 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in) Weight 55 kg (121 lb) Sport Athletics Event 800 m Club Canterbury Personal best 800 m – 2:01.4 (1962)[ 1]
Marise Ann Millicent Chamberlain MNZM (born 5 December 1935) is a New Zealand former middle-distance runner. As of 2024, she is the only New Zealand woman to win an Olympic medal in track athletics (Lorraine Moller won a medal in the marathon ). She set world records over 440 yards, 400 metres and 1 mile.[ 2]
At the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth , Western Australia, she won a silver medal over 880 yards , behind Australian Dixie Willis . Two years later, at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo , she won the bronze medal[ 1] [ 3] behind Ann Packer (gold) and Maryvonne Dupureur (silver), the top five runners beating the old Olympic record time set by Dupureur in the semifinals.[ 4]
At the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica Chamberlain stumbled just before the finish line when leading in the 880 yds final and missed out on a medal.
In the 2003 Queen's Birthday Honours , Chamberlain was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit , for services to athletics.[ 5]
Chamberlain was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1995. She has lived in the Christchurch suburb of South New Brighton all her life. Since Earle Wells ' death in 2021, she is the only surviving New Zealand medallist from the 1964 Summer Olympics .[ 2]
Honorific eponym
Chamberlain Place, in the Hamilton suburb of Chartwell , is named in Chamberlain's honour.[ 6]
References
External links
New Zealand national champions in women's 200 m
Note: 220 yards before 1970
220 yards 200 metres
New Zealand national champions in women's 400 m
Note: 440 yards before 1970
440 yards 400 metres
New Zealand national champions in women's 800 m
Note: 880 yards before 1970
880 yards 800 metres