RJC Dance Director Kathy Williams MBE reflects on her Olympic journey

As the world gets ready to watch the start of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, RJC Dance Director and northern Olympian Kathy Williams MBE wishes Team GB every success, and reflects on her own Olympic journey.

It was the 1972 Olympics when Kathy had her real epiphany. Coming in from playing with the kids in her street during the 6 weeks school holiday, she turned on the TV to see Olga Korbut, who captivated the world that summer with her elegant and acrobatic performance. Kathy recalls everything about her appearance, from the red collared white leotard to her incredibly light, agile and exquisite performance.

“I was totally mesmerised and immersed in the games. I knew then that gymnastics was what I wanted to do.”

Image: Kathy performing the balance beam.

Emboldened in her aim to perform at the world’s foremost sports competition, Kathy was selected to represent Team GB at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Kathy, dubbed ‘The Black Tulip' was the first black female gymnast to represent great Britain at any Olympic Games. Being selected was a joyous moment, not just for Kathy, for her family and friends, her coaches and the entire community.

“It was amazing news. I felt so proud demonstrating that hard work does pay off and dreams can come true. I was a regular teenager from Manchester and I was going to the Olympics... Anything is possible!”

Image: Kathy (front row) marching in the opening ceremony of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles for Team GB.

Once in Los Angeles, Kathy was thrust into the international spotlight from the beginning, as she and her gymnastics teammates led Team GB into the Los Angeles Coliseum for the opening ceremony. As the only black gymnast, and right in the middle, Kathy was easy to spot for those watching at home (and eagerly recording).

Kathy found herself among those international sports stars that she had looked up to, including British decathlete Daley Thompson, whose tenacity and determination against all adversity was inspirational.

“Like Jesse Owens and Muhammad Ali, Carl Lewis & Ed Moses, meeting some of my idols was incredible.”

Image: Kathy and Olympic Decathlete Daley Thompson

As Director of RJC Dance, Kathy dedicates her life's work to living and promoting the Olympic values through sport and the creative arts. Kathy is excited to see this year's Summer Olympians, who have trained so very hard to get to Paris, creating more amazing memories through their individual and team efforts, with the nation behind them.

“As the athletes are preparing for this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris, I know there will be proud coaches, parents, families and friends looking on as dreams are realised, records are broken and medals are awarded. I will be looking forward to seeing Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history. She has turned the gymnastics world upside down just like Olga Korbut and Nadia Comăneci did back in the 70s’.

Every sport at Olympic level is just so exciting to watch – I’m looking forward to seeing it all.”

Kathy wishes every success to Team GB, and good luck to all the other participating athletes, at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games.