Dixie Willis
Encyclopedia
Dixie Isabel Willis (born 13 December 1941 in Fremantle, Western Australia
) is a former Australia
n middle distance runner
, who won the gold medal in the women's 880 yards event at the 1962 Commonwealth Games. She was selected to compete over 800 metres for her native country at two consecutive Summer Olympics. At Rome
in 1960 she was leading the final with 70 metres remaining when she pulled off the track. In 1964 at Tokyo
she was unable to compete due to injury.
On 3 March 1962 she set world records for 800 metres (2:01.2) and 880 yards (2:02.0) in narrowly beating Marise Chamberlain
(2:01.4 and 2:02.3) who also beat the previous world records.
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
) is a former Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n middle distance runner
Running
Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
, who won the gold medal in the women's 880 yards event at the 1962 Commonwealth Games. She was selected to compete over 800 metres for her native country at two consecutive Summer Olympics. At Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1960 she was leading the final with 70 metres remaining when she pulled off the track. In 1964 at Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
she was unable to compete due to injury.
On 3 March 1962 she set world records for 800 metres (2:01.2) and 880 yards (2:02.0) in narrowly beating Marise Chamberlain
Marise Chamberlain
Marise Chamberlain is a former New Zealand middle distance runner. She is the only New Zealand woman to win an Olympic medal in track athletics...
(2:01.4 and 2:02.3) who also beat the previous world records.