Dame Yvette Winifred Corlett DNZM MBE (née Williams; 25 April 1929 – 13 April 2019) was a New Zealand track-and-field athlete who was the first woman from her country to win an Olympic gold medal and to hold the world record in the women's long jump.

[7] She went on to win 21 national titles across 5 disciplines: shot put (1947–54), javelin (1950), discus (1951–54), long jump (1948–54) and the 80 m hurdles (1954).

When Bellwood moved to Auckland in 1952 to teach at Avondale College,[9] Williams followed, boarding with an aunt and uncle in Devonport.

[12] In February 1954, Williams broke the women's long jump world record at Gisborne, New Zealand, with a leap of 6.28 metres.

[14] At the time she ranked number one in world track and field history in the long jump, fifth in the pentathlon, 12th in the discus throw and 19th in the shot put.

[12] Williams married Buddy Corlett, a member of the national basketball team, in Auckland on 11 December 1954.

[4] In the 1953 New Year Honours, Williams was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services in women's athletics.

[22] In 2013, the New Zealand Olympic Committee, in association with the Glenn Family Foundation, established the Yvette Williams Scholarship, to assist young athletes displaying both exceptional talent and need.