View source for Alison Williamson

{{Short description|British archer (born 1971)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2012}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| headercolor = 
| name = Alison Williamson
| honorific_suffix = [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]]
| image = XIX Commonwealth Games-2010 Delhi Archery (Women’s Individual Recurve) Alison Jane Williamson of England (Silver) during the medal presentation ceremony (cropped).jpg
| image_size = 
| caption = XIX Commonwealth Games – 2010 Delhi Archery (women's individual recurve) Alison Jane Williamson of England (silver) during the medal presentation ceremony
| birth_name = 
| fullname = Alison Jane Williamson
| nickname = 
| residence = 
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|11|3|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Melton Mowbray]], [[Leicestershire]], England
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| height = 
| weight = 
| education = [[Arizona State University]]
| country = {{GBR2}}
| sport = [[Archery]]
| event = [[Recurve (bow)|Recurve]]
| collegeteam = 
| club = Long Mynd Archers
| turnedpro = 
| coach = 
| worlds = 
| regionals = 
| nationals = 
| olympics = <!-- Are these needed in the infobox? [[1992 Summer Olympics|1992 Barcelona]] – 8th (Ind), 13th (team)<br />[[1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Atlanta]] – 10th (Ind)<br />[[2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Sydney]] – 9th (Ind)<br />[[2004 Summer Olympics|2004 Athens]] – 3rd (Ind), 12th (team)<br />[[2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Beijing]] – 17th (Ind), 4th (team) -->
| highestranking = 
| pb = 
| show-medals = 
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry | {{GBR2}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Archery at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]] }}
 {{MedalBronze | [[2004 Summer Olympics|2004 Athens]] | [[Archery at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's individual|Individual]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[World Archery Championships|World Championships]] }}
 {{MedalSilver| [[1999 World Archery Championships|1999 Riom]] | [[1999 World Archery Championships#Recurve|Individual recurve]]}}
 {{MedalBronze| [[2007 World Archery Championships|2007 Leipzig]] | [[2007 World Archery Championships#Recurve|Team recurve]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{ENG}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Commonwealth Games]] }}
 {{MedalSilver | [[2010 Commonwealth Games|2010 Delhi]] | [[Archery at the 2010 Commonwealth Games|Individual recurve]] }}
 {{MedalSilver | [[2010 Commonwealth Games|2010 Delhi]] | [[Archery at the 2010 Commonwealth Games|Team recurve]] }}
}}

'''Alison Jane Williamson''' [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]] (born 3 November 1971) is a retired British [[archery|archer]] who represented [[Great Britain at the Summer Olympics|Great Britain]] at six consecutive Olympic Games from 1992 to 2012. She won a bronze medal in the women's individual event at the [[2004 Summer Olympics]], becoming the first British woman to win an Olympic archery medal in ninety-six years. Williamson achieved two medals at the [[World Archery Championships]] and represented [[England at the Commonwealth Games|England]] at the [[2010 Commonwealth Games]], winning two silver medals.

Williamson was appointed [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) in [[2012 Birthday Honours|2012]]. She announced her retirement from archery in 2014.

==Early and personal life==
Alison Williamson was born on 3 November 1971 in [[Melton Mowbray]], [[Leicestershire]].<ref name="The Telegraph n.d.">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/Team-GB/competitors/8662208/Alison-Williamson-Team-GB-London-2012-Olympics.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204193523/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/Team-GB/competitors/8662208/Alison-Williamson-Team-GB-London-2012-Olympics.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 February 2012|title=Alison Williamson|website=The Telegraph|accessdate=9 February 2020}}</ref> She was introduced to archery at the age of seven by her parents,<ref name="BBC News 2012">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19741658|title=Olympic archer Alison Williamson plans future as teacher|website=BBC News|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|date=28 September 2012|accessdate=8 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001011626/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19741658|archive-date=1 October 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> who both practised the sport recreationally.<ref name="The Guardian 2004">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2004/aug/19/athensolympics2004.olympicgames9|title=Alison Williamson takes bronze to hit her Olympic target after 12 years|website=The Guardian|first=Paul|last=Kelso|date=19 August 2004|accessdate=29 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729222056/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2004/aug/19/athensolympics2004.olympicgames9|archive-date=29 July 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> As of 2012, both her parents remained active in the sport, her father holding the position of president of the British archery's governing body, [[Archery GB]], and her mother working as a coach.<ref name="BBC Sport 2012">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/18331416|title=London 2012: Archer Alison Williamson equals Games record|website=BBC Sport|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|date=7 June 2012|access-date=23 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105075700/https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/18331416|archive-date=5 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> At the age of ten Williamson won a silver medal at the 1981 [[Wenlock Olympian Games]]<ref name="BBC Sport 2011">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/14249187|title=Alison Williamson aims for Olympic elite in sixth Games|website=BBC Sport|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|date=26 July 2011|accessdate=7 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304134704/https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/14249187|archive-date=4 March 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> and at fourteen she qualified for her first international tournament.<ref name="The Telegraph n.d."/>

To garner publicity ahead of the 1996 Summer Olympics, Williamson posed nude as part of a series of photographs showcased in the [[National Portrait Gallery, London|National Portrait Gallery]].<ref name="The Independent 2004">{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/naked-ambition-finally-earns-reward-for-williamson-557165.html|title=Naked ambition finally earns reward for Williamson|website=The Independent|first=Paul|last=Newman|date=19 August 2004|accessdate=8 February 2020|archive-date=4 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804211104/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/naked-ambition-finally-earns-reward-for-williamson-557165.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/gold-is-the-target-for-glorified-darts-7576320.html|title=Gold is the target for 'glorified darts'|website=The Independent|first=Alan|last=Hubbard|date=18 March 2012|accessdate=9 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319143218/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/gold-is-the-target-for-glorified-darts-7576320.html|archive-date=19 March 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2003 she received funding from the [[National Lottery (United Kingdom)|National Lottery]] for the first time, allowing her to divide archery practice with part-time work as a primary school teacher.<ref name="The Guardian 2004"/> The grants allowed her to become a full-time athlete in 2006.<ref name="The Telegraph 2008">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/archery/2535999/Tearful-Alison-Williamson-off-target-fo-Great-Britain-in-the-team-archery-Olympics.html|title=Tearful Alison Williamson off target {{sic|nolink=y|reason=error in source|fo}} Great Britain in the Olympic archery|website=The Telegraph|first=Tom|last=Knight|date=10 August 2008|accessdate=29 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618073705/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/archery/2535999/Tearful-Alison-Williamson-off-target-fo-Great-Britain-in-the-team-archery-Olympics.html|archive-date=18 June 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

In May 2012 she participated in the [[2012 Summer Olympics torch relay|Olympic torch relay]], acting as a torchbearer as it passed through the [[Shropshire]] town of [[Much Wenlock]] on the twelfth day of the route.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18252601|title=Olympic torch carried by Afghanistan war veteran|website=BBC News|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|date=30 May 2012|accessdate=9 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802222341/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-18252601|archive-date=2 August 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> The following month Williamson was appointed a [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] for services to archery in the [[2012 Birthday Honours|Queen's Birthday Honours]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=60173|supp=y|page=23|date=16 June 2012}}</ref>

Williamson married husband Will Conaghan in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2013/05/31/olympic-archery-ace-alison-williamson-tying-the-knot/|title=Olympic archery ace Alison Williamson tying the knot|website=Shropshire Star|publisher=Midlands News Association|date=31 May 2013|accessdate=29 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803213600/https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2013/05/31/olympic-archery-ace-alison-williamson-tying-the-knot/|archive-date=3 August 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> She is a member of the Long Mynd Archers club based in Shropshire.<ref name="BBC News 2012"/> She is a graduate of [[Arizona State University]] and in 2000 listed Jamaican sprinter [[Merlene Ottey]] as her favourite sportsperson.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/olympics2000/other_sports/newsid_897000/897039.stm|title=Williamson right on target|website=BBC Sport|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|date=26 August 2000|accessdate=15 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001213070200/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/olympics2000/other_sports/newsid_897000/897039.stm|archive-date=13 December 2000}}</ref>

==Career==
===Olympic career===
;1992, 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics
Williamson made her Olympic debut at the [[1992 Summer Olympics]] in [[Barcelona]], finishing the [[Archery at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Women's individual|women's individual event]] in eighth place. Four years later at the [[1996 Summer Olympics]] in [[Atlanta]], she ended the [[Archery at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Women's individual|individual competition]] in tenth position.<ref name="BBC Sport 2012"/>

Williamson entered her third Olympic Games in [[2000 Summer Olympics|2000]] with expectations that she would be a contender for a medal.<ref name="The Guardian 2004"/><ref name="The Independent 2004"/> She was however eliminated in the last sixteen of the [[Archery at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Women's individual|women's individual event]] by the eventual gold medalist [[Yun Mi-jin]] of South Korea, who posted a new Olympic record [[Target archery#Scoring|score]] of 173 for an eighteen-arrow match to beat Williamson's own tournament best by nine points.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics2000/other_sports/931383.stm|title=Cool Korean sinks Williamson|website=BBC Sport|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|date=19 September 2000|access-date=14 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202211908/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics2000/other_sports/931383.stm|archive-date=2 December 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Williamson had considered herself fortunate to have progressed as one of the last sixteen archers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/4771798/Archery-Williamson-falls-as-Yun-finds-target.html|title=Archery: Williamson falls as Yun finds target|website=The Telegraph|first=Claire|last=Middleton|date=20 September 2000|accessdate=29 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160227151828/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/4771798/Archery-Williamson-falls-as-Yun-finds-target.html|archive-date=27 February 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

;2004 Summer Olympics
The [[2004 Summer Olympics]] in [[Athens]] marked the fourth time Williamson had contested an Olympic archery event.<ref name="BBC Sport 2004a">{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics_2004/archery/3575648.stm|title=Archery bronze for Williamson|website=BBC Sport|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|date=18 August 2004|access-date=29 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060312120220/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics_2004/archery/3575648.stm|archive-date=12 March 2006|url-status=live}}</ref> After advancing through the opening elimination rounds Williamson won a controversial quarter-final against China's [[He Ying]], who shot her ninth arrow outside of the imposed time limit and had her tenth arrow's score voided as a penalty. Williamson was later defeated in the semi-finals by South Korea's [[Park Sung-hyun (archer)|Park Sung-hyun]], and faced fellow losing semi-finalist [[Yuan Shu Chi]] of Chinese Taipei in the bronze medal match. After eleven arrows the pair were tied on points, but Williamson outshot Yuan on the twelfth and final arrow to win by a single point and claim her maiden Olympic medal.<ref name="The Independent 2004"/><ref name="BBC Sport 2004a"/> Her achievement marked the first Olympic archery medal won by Great Britain since [[Archery at the 1992 Summer Olympics|1992]]<ref name="BBC Sport 2004b">{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics_2004/archery/3578092.stm|title=Williamson hints at rethink|website=BBC Sport|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|first=Phil|last=Gordos|date=18 August 2004|access-date=8 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060312120226/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics_2004/archery/3578092.stm|archive-date=12 March 2006|url-status=live}}</ref> and the first for a British woman since [[Queenie Newall|Sybil Newall]] in [[Archery at the 1908 Summer Olympics|1908]].<ref name="The Guardian 2004"/>

;2008 Summer Olympics
Williamson was announced to the British Olympic team for her fifth Olympics in June 2008. She was joined by [[Naomi Folkard]] and [[Charlotte Burgess]] in the women's individual and women's team events, the three having won gold medal at the [[2008 Archery World Cup]] stage in the Dominican Republic earlier that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/archery/7465436.stm|title=Williamson heads to fifth Games|website=BBC Sport|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|date=20 June 2008|access-date=8 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719055527/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/archery/7465436.stm|archive-date=19 July 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> In Beijing the three were successful in reaching the semi-finals of the [[Archery at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's team|women's team competition]] before a loss to China relegated them to the bronze medal match against France. Amid difficult weather conditions which postponed the match for 50 minutes, Williamson and her teammates performed below expectations and France emerged as the winners by two points over twenty-four arrows.<ref name="The Telegraph 2008"/> Williamson was later eliminated from the [[Archery at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's individual|women's individual event]] in a surprise defeat to [[Khatuna Lorig]] of the United States,<ref name="BBC Sport 2011"/> who in their twelve-arrow encounter shot a score just two points shy of the Olympic record.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/aug/13/britisholympicteam.olympics2008|title=Olympics: Korean women target supremacy|website=The Guardian|first=Eddie|last=Butler|date=12 August 2008|accessdate=8 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122005016/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/aug/13/britisholympicteam.olympics2008|archive-date=22 January 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

Speaking to the BBC after her defeats, Williamson admitted she was contemplating retiring from the sport.<ref name="BBC Sport 2008">{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/archery/7557056.stm|title=Williamson considers retirement|website=BBC Sport|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|date=13 August 2008|access-date=8 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129213602/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/archery/7557056.stm|archive-date=29 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> She however decided to continue to pursue a place at the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] held in [[London]], saying four years later that she felt "a real determination to take part because it was a home games."<ref name="BBC News 2012"/>

;2012 Summer Olympics
After having what the BBC called a "mixed" year in 2011, Williamson stated her goal going into 2012 was to qualify for the [[2012 Summer Olympics|upcoming Summer Olympics]] held in [[London]] and expressed a particular desire to win gold medal in the women's team event.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/archery/15238163|title=Alison Williamson targets 2012 team success over individual gold|website=BBC Sport|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|first=Nick|last=Hope|date=10 October 2011|accessdate=7 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207120915/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/archery/15238163|archive-date=7 February 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2012 Williamson was again successful in being selected for the British Olympic team, equalling the British record set by fencer [[Bill Hoskyns]] and athlete [[Tessa Sanderson]] in competing in six consecutive Summer Olympic Games.<ref name="BBC Sport 2012"/>

Williamson did not have a strong showing in London. She finished the preliminary ranking round for the [[Archery at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's individual|women's individual event]] in forty-seventh place, a position the ''[[Evening Standard]]'' described as "disappointing",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/olympics/olympics-sport/alison-williamson-and-naomi-folkard-bow-out-as-archers-are-wide-of-the-mark-7994507.html|title=Alison Williamson and Naomi Folkard bow out as archers are wide of the mark|website=Evening Standard|location=London|first=Giuseppe|last=Muro|date=31 July 2012|accessdate=29 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231202338/http://www.standard.co.uk/olympics/olympics-sport/alison-williamson-and-naomi-folkard-bow-out-as-archers-are-wide-of-the-mark-7994507.html|archive-date=31 December 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> before being eliminated by Mongolia's [[Bishindee Urantungalag]] in the opening elimination round.<ref name="Telegraph 2012a">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/archery/9441079/London-2012-Olympics-Alison-Williamson-and-Naomi-Folkard-crash-out-of-the-archery.html|title=London 2012 Olympics: Alison Williamson and Naomi Folkard crash out of the archery|website=The Telegraph|first=Jessica|last=Winch|date=31 July 2012|accessdate=29 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731230719/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/archery/9441079/London-2012-Olympics-Alison-Williamson-and-Naomi-Folkard-crash-out-of-the-archery.html|archive-date=31 July 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Her participation in the [[Archery at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's team|women's team]] event also ended at the first stage after she and her teammates [[Naomi Folkard]] and [[Amy Oliver]] were defeated by Russia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/archery/9435962/London-2012-Olympics-Great-Britains-Naomi-Folkard-Amy-Oliver-and-Alison-Williamson-out-of-team-archery.html|title=London 2012 Olympics: Great Britain's Naomi Folkard, Amy Oliver and Alison Williamson out of team archery|website=The Telegraph|first=Tanya|last=Aldred|date=29 July 2012|accessdate=7 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729175642/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/archery/9435962/London-2012-Olympics-Great-Britains-Naomi-Folkard-Amy-Oliver-and-Alison-Williamson-out-of-team-archery.html|archive-date=29 July 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> After her defeat to Urantungalag, Williamson said she was undecided about whether to challenge for selection to a seventh [[2016 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games in 2016]].<ref name="Telegraph 2012a"/>

===Other competitions===
[[File:XIX Commonwealth Games-2010 Delhi Archery (Women’s Individual Recurve) Deepika Kumari of India (Gold), Alison Jane Williamson of England (Silver) and Dola Banerjee of India (Bronze) during the medal presentation ceremony.jpg|thumb|200px|Williamson (left) during the medal ceremony for the women's individual recurve event at the 2010 Commonwealth Games]]
;World Archery Championships
Williamson has won two medals at the [[World Archery Championships]]. In [[1999 World Archery Championships|1999]] she finished with a silver medal, later calling it her "worst sporting moment" in an interview with ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' in 2004 after shooting below her expectations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/2383645/My-Sport-Alison-Williamson.html|title=My Sport: Alison Williamson|website=The Telegraph|first=Gareth A.|last=Davies|date=27 July 2004|accessdate=9 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705095438/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/2383645/My-Sport-Alison-Williamson.html|archive-date=5 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In [[2007 World Archery Championships|2007]] she and teammates [[Naomi Folkard]] and [[Charlotte Burgess]] secured bronze medal in the women's team recurve tournament, defeating Italy in the third-place match. By reaching the semi-finals they guaranteed a full berth of three female archers for the British team at the 2008 Summer Olympics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/archery/6898838.stm|title=GB teams secure silver and bronze|website=BBC Sport|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|date=14 July 2007|access-date=9 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907003704/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/archery/6898838.stm|archive-date=7 September 2008|url-status=live}}</ref>

;2010 Commonwealth Games
Williamson won two silver medals at the [[2010 Commonwealth Games]] in [[Delhi]], reaching the final of both the [[Archery at the 2010 Commonwealth Games – Women's recurve individual|women's individual]] and [[Archery at the 2010 Commonwealth Games – Women's recurve team|women's team]] recurve events. Despite the controversy over the conduct of the Indian crowd during the final of the team event, in which the spectators were criticised for distracting Williamson's teammate [[Amy Oliver]] while she shot her final arrow of the match, Williamson acknowledged that the opposing Indian team were "worthy winners" of the gold medal, saying "if you'd offered us silver on the plane on the way over here we possibly would have taken it".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/commonwealth_games/delhi_2010/9072500.stm|title=Commonwealth Games 2010: England win archery silver|website=BBC Sport|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|date=8 October 2010|access-date=29 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101011041135/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/commonwealth_games/delhi_2010/9072500.stm|archive-date=11 October 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> Her second silver medal came in the final of the individual competition, with India's [[Deepika Kumari]] defeating Williamson by six [[Archery Olympic Round#Sets|set points]] to zero.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/commonwealth_games/delhi_2010/9077602.stm|title=Williamson secures archery silver|website=BBC Sport|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|date=10 October 2010|access-date=29 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101014052913/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/commonwealth_games/delhi_2010/9077602.stm|archive-date=14 October 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Retirement===
Following the 2012 Summer Olympics, Williamson said she no longer had the same motivation that had driven her to compete at previous Olympic Games, although victory at the national championships shortly afterwards forestalled an immediate retirement.<ref name="BBC News 2012"/> After committing to a break from competitive archery before deciding whether to attempt for a record-breaking seventh Olympic Games, Williamson announced her retirement in April 2014. She cited her inability to "continue to dedicate the hours that are needed", adding "now the time is right to just concentrate on the day job".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/archery/27115513|title=Alison Williamson: GB Olympian archer retires|website=BBC Sport|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|first=Nick|last=Hope|date=23 April 2014|accessdate=29 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129202134/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/archery/27115513|archive-date=29 January 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Bill Hoskyns]] – represented Great Britain at six consecutive Summer Olympics ([[1956 Summer Olympics|1956]]–[[1976 Summer Olympics|1976]]) in [[Fencing at the Summer Olympics|fencing]]
*[[Tessa Sanderson]] – represented Great Britain at six consecutive Summer Olympics (1976–[[1996 Summer Olympics|1996]]) in the [[Javelin throw at the Olympics|javelin throw]]
*[[Queenie Newall|Sybil Newall]], [[Charlotte Dod]] and [[Beatrice Hill-Lowe]] – Great Britain's female archery medalists at the [[1908 Summer Olympics]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{World Archery}}
* {{Team GB|5A66mjwuy1x40n2EAz0djp}} ([https://web.archive.org/web/20070927212737/http://www.olympics.org.uk/athleterecord.aspx?at=3247 archive])
* {{Olympics.com profile}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{2010 Commonwealth Games profile|275359}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Williamson, Alison}}
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English female archers]]
[[Category:Archers at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Archers at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Archers at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Archers at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Archers at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Archers at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic archers for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medallists for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Melton Mowbray]]
[[Category:People from Church Stretton]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in archery]]
[[Category:Archers at the 2010 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:World Archery Championships medalists]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists for England]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists in archery]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 2010 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:21st-century English sportswomen]]
[[Category:20th-century English sportswomen]]