Willie Williams (athlete)
Encyclopedia
Willie Williams is a former American sprinter
who set the 100 metres world record in 1956, with a new time of 10.1s, one-tenth of second faster than Jesse Owens
' previous record.
He grew up in Gary, Indiana
, attending Roosevelt High School
where he played football
and was first in the state in the 100m as a senior. He attended the University of Illinois, from where he gained a degree in physical education. He was in the US army in special services when he broke the world record at the International Military Track Meet in West Berlin
in August 1956. He left the army later that year, and became athletics director at Ogden Park
, Chicago, before teaching and coaching sports in his home town. He became head track coach at West Side High School
, then in 1982 returned to the University of Illinois to coach track. Although he trained the Saudi Arabian Olympic track team
in the summer of 1988 for the Seoul Olympics, he declined the opportunity to move to Saudi Arabia and stayed with Illinois, becoming associate head coach in 1997 before retiring in 2000. He lives in Urbana, Illinois
.
Sprinter
Sprinter can refer to:in sport:* a person who participates in Sprint running* a cycling sprinter* Open-wheeled Sprint car racingmotor vehicles:* the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter , a cargo van...
who set the 100 metres world record in 1956, with a new time of 10.1s, one-tenth of second faster than Jesse Owens
Jesse Owens
James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens was an American track and field athlete who specialized in the sprints and the long jump. He participated in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, where he achieved international fame by winning four gold medals: one each in the 100 meters, the 200 meters, the...
' previous record.
He grew up in Gary, Indiana
Gary, Indiana
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The city is in the southeastern portion of the Chicago metropolitan area and is 25 miles from downtown Chicago. The population is 80,294 at the 2010 census, making it the seventh-largest city in the state. It borders Lake Michigan and is known...
, attending Roosevelt High School
Theodore Roosevelt High School (Gary)
Theodore Roosevelt High School is a four year public high school of the Gary Community School Corporation in Gary, Indiana, United States...
where he played football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and was first in the state in the 100m as a senior. He attended the University of Illinois, from where he gained a degree in physical education. He was in the US army in special services when he broke the world record at the International Military Track Meet in West Berlin
West Berlin
West Berlin was a political exclave that existed between 1949 and 1990. It comprised the western regions of Berlin, which were bordered by East Berlin and parts of East Germany. West Berlin consisted of the American, British, and French occupation sectors, which had been established in 1945...
in August 1956. He left the army later that year, and became athletics director at Ogden Park
Ogden Park
Ogden Park was a recreational facility on the near north side of Chicago, Illinois around the 1860s and 1870s. It was home to the Ogden Skating Club. It was on a piece of land east of where Ontario Street T-ed into Michigan Avenue...
, Chicago, before teaching and coaching sports in his home town. He became head track coach at West Side High School
West Side High School (Gary)
West Side High School is a four year public school of the Gary Community School Corporation in Gary, Indiana, United States.- History :...
, then in 1982 returned to the University of Illinois to coach track. Although he trained the Saudi Arabian Olympic track team
Saudi Arabia at the 1988 Summer Olympics
Saudi Arabia competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea.-Archery:In the second time the nation competed in archery at the Olympics, Saudi Arabia entered two men. Once again, the Saudis only narrowly avoided constituting the bottom of the ranking...
in the summer of 1988 for the Seoul Olympics, he declined the opportunity to move to Saudi Arabia and stayed with Illinois, becoming associate head coach in 1997 before retiring in 2000. He lives in Urbana, Illinois
Urbana, Illinois
Urbana is the county seat of Champaign County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 41,250. Urbana is the tenth-most populous city in Illinois outside of the Chicago metropolitan area....
.
External links
- Willie Williams on FightingIllini.com