Olga Jekyll | |
Birth Name: | Olga May MacPherson |
Birth Date: | 8 October 1918 |
Death Place: | Christchurch, New Zealand |
Country: | New Zealand |
Sport: | Fencing |
Club: | United Fencing Club |
Nationals: | Foil champion (1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1959) |
Olga May Jekyll (née MacPherson, 8 October 1918 – 11 February 2014) was a New Zealand fencer, who represented her country at the 1950 British Empire Games.
Born Olga May MacPherson on 8 October 1918,[1] Jekyll competed in her first fencing tournament in 1938.[2] She went on to win 18 Canterbury championships,[2] and five New Zealand national titles: in 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, and 1959.[3] At the 1950 British Empire Games in Auckland, Jekyll represented New Zealand in the individual women's foil, recording three wins to finish in fifth place.[4] [5]
Jekyll retired from competitive fencing in 1972, but continued her involvement in the sport as an administrator and coach, including at Avonside Girls' High School.[2] [6] She was a founding member of the United Fencing Club in Christchurch in 1956.[2] [7]
After World War II, Jekyll married Allan Joseph Jekyll, but was widowed by his death in 1948.[8] The couple did not have children, and she never remarried.[6]
In the 1982 Queen's Birthday Honours, Jekyll was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for community service. She was also a life member of the New Zealand Amateur Fencing Association.[7]
Fencing Midsouth awards the Olga Jekyll Trophy annually, and organises an Olga Jekyll mixed teams event.[9] [10]
As a result of the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, Jekyll was forced to move from her home.[7] She died in Christchurch on 11 February 2014.[11]