Norma Thrower (nee Austin) was South Australia’s first female track and field Olympian – for the 1960 Games in Rome – and won bronze in the 80m hurdles.
It literally ran in the blood. Norma Austin was the daughter of Bay Sheffield winner, Arnie Austin; the father coaching his daughter throughout her illustrious career.
At times under his guidance, she even trained by the light of a lantern held by her father.
She was 13 when she made her first State team. Unsurprisingly, with such pressure on a youngster’s shoulders, nerves got the better of her, and she was disqualified from her first national final when she broke twice in her heat.
Back in Adelaide, and undeterred, she continued to train every day of the week when very few women did so. She loved the 80 metre hurdles.
For competition, she competed against the then current male champions, Geoff Jones and Deane Perrott.
Finally, Norma Austin earned the distinction of being South Australia’s first track and field Olympian, selected for the 1956 Olympics, where she won an Olympic bronze in the 80m hurdles, behind Shirley Strickland de la Hunty, who won the event in world and Olympic record time.
Places for 2nd & 3rd were separated only by photo finish: Austin and a European woman ran the same time.
Then two years later, as Norma Thrower, she won a Commonwealth Games gold medal in a time of 10.7 secs.
During a time of enormous achievements, she won three national titles – 1956, 58 and 60 – the latter leading her to Olympic selection for Rome.
At an event prior to the Olympics, Norma Thrower ascended to the top of the world, setting a new world record for the 80m hurdles in a time of 10.6secs. It was an enormous achievement, rare air for a South Australian born, bred and coached athlete.
Norma Thrower has earned a rightful place as a member of Athletics Australia Hall of Fame, Athletics SA Hall of Fame, and the SA Sports Hall of Fame.
