Willie Williams (athlete)
Willie James Williams I ( September 12, 1931 - February 27, 2019 ) was an American athlete who was successful in the 100 m in the early 1950s.
His fame is based on the fact that on August 3, 1956, he improved the twenty-year-old world record set by Jesse Owens (10.2 s) to 10.1 seconds, at the place where Owens won his four gold medals at the time: in Berlin . The new world record was set by two other runners - Ira Murchison and Leamon King - that same year .
A year earlier (1955) Willie Williams had the bronze medal at the Pan American Games in Mexico City in 10.4 seconds behind Rod Richard (10.3 s) and the Trinidadian Mike Agostini (10.4 s) over 100 meters and the Won gold medal with the 4 x 100 meter relay.
He also won two NCAA championships over 100 y: 1953 (9.7 s) and 1954 (9.5 s). At the AAU championships, he placed second (9.58 s) in 1954 and fourth (9.3 s) in 1963.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Willie Williams, American athlete, Died at 87 on tickleme.info
Web links
- Willie Williams in the database of World Athletics (English)
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Williams, Willie |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Willie James Williams I. (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American athlete |
| DATE OF BIRTH | September 12, 1931 |
| DATE OF DEATH | February 27, 2019 |