Ideals Are Like Stars

"The First New Zealand Woman To Win An Olympic Gold Medal, A Feat Not Repeated For Forty Years. Ideals Are Like Stars Is The Remarkable True Story Of Yvette Williams, A Trailblazing Young Athlete Who Defied The Odds To Win Gold In The Long Jump At The Helsinki Olympics In 1952. Ignoring The Pressure To Abandon Her Dreams And Become A Housewife, Yvette'S Sports Career Is A Highlight Reel Of Newly Set Records Which Propelled Her Into The Spotlight. Well-Known For Her Rigorous Training, Down-To-Earth Nature And Sense Of Humour, Yvette Was The Epitome Of The Kiwi Sporting Hero--Humble, Hardworking And Dedicated Who Won The Hearts Of The Nation. To This Day She Is Regarded As A National Treasure And Her Story Is Destined To Inspire Many Young Kiwi Athletes To Follow In Her Wake. Author Angela Walker Has Written A Remarkably Intimate Narrative Account Of The Life Of One Of Our Nation Finest Athletes. Angela, Who Herself Competed At The Olympics (Seoul) 36 Years After Yvette, Has Drawn On Never-Before-Seen Diaries, As Well As Interviews With The Late Kiwi Icon To Recreate The Day-To-Day World Of Yvette On The Page. This Is A Long Overdue Celebration Of An Extraordinary Sporting Life And A Highly Engaging Chronicle Of A Young Woman'S Quest For Excellence."--