Her record five gold medals in a single games was not equalled until 1990, when swimmer Hayley Lewis took five golds in Auckland, and not beaten until Susie O'Neill won six golds in Kuala Lumpur in 1998. Norman remained in Sydney, to begin training for the next Olympics, however her further athletic ambitions were blunted, when the 1940 Olympics were cancelled due to World War II.
An Australian swimmer set a record by winning five consecutive gold medals at a single games, a feat not equaled until 1990 when Hayley Lewis achieved it in Auckland. However, this record remained unbroken until Susie O'Neill broke it with six golds in Kuala Lumpur in 1998. Meanwhile, the athlete Norman continued to train for the next Olympics in Sydney but her future athletic ambitions were put on hold due to World War II.