Olga Jekyll

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Olga May Jekyll (born Olga May MacPherson, 8 October 1918 – 11 February 2014) was a New Zealand fencer from Christchurch. She began fencing in 1938 and went on to win 18 Canterbury championships and five New Zealand national titles (1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1959). At the 1950 British Empire Games in Auckland, she represented New Zealand in the women’s foil, finishing fifth with three wins.

Jekyll retired from competition in 1972 but stayed active as a coach and administrator, including work at Avonside Girls’ High School. She helped start the United Fencing Club in Christchurch in 1956. After World War II, she married Allan Joseph Jekyll; he died in 1948. They had no children, and she never remarried.

In 1982, Jekyll received the Queen’s Service Medal for community service. She was a life member of the New Zealand Amateur Fencing Association. The Olga Jekyll Trophy and an Olga Jekyll mixed teams event are named in her honor by Fencing Midsouth.

The 2011 Christchurch earthquake forced her to move from her home. Olga Jekyll died in Christchurch on 11 February 2014, aged 95.