Steve Williams (sprinter) facts for kids
Steve Williams in 1976.
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nationality | American | |||||||||||||||||||
| Born | November 13, 1953 New York City, United States |
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| Height | 1.92 m | |||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 79 kg | |||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Running | |||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 100 meters, 200 meters | |||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | 100 m: 10.07 s (Zurich, Switzerland; 16/08/1978)/ 9.9 s (hand-time, then WR=) 200 m: 20.16 s (Stuttgart, Germany; 26/08/1975) / 19.8 s (hand-time, then WR=) |
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Medal record
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Steve Williams (born November 13, 1953) is a retired track and field sprinter from the United States. He was known for being one of the fastest runners in the world during his time. He even matched the world records for the 100-meter and 200-meter races. He ran the 100m in 9.9 seconds and the 200m in 19.8 seconds. He was also part of a team that set a world record in the 4 × 100-meter relay race.
Even though he never competed in the Olympic Games, Steve Williams achieved great success at the IAAF World Cup. In 1977, he won the 100-meter race and helped the US team set a new world record in the 4 × 100-meter relay. He also won American titles in the 100-yard and 220-yard races in 1973, and the 100-meter race in 1974.
Contents
Steve Williams's Running Career
Steve Williams was a top sprinter who achieved many impressive things in track and field.
Winning Big Races
In 1977, Steve Williams won the 100 meters at the 1977 IAAF World Cup in Düsseldorf, Germany. He was representing the United States. In the same event, he was the final runner for the USA 4x100 meters relay team. This team, which included Bill Collins, Steve Riddick, and Cliff Wiley, set a new world record of 38.03 seconds. This moment is considered one of the top 10 World Cup moments by experts. Steve also earned a bronze medal in the 4x100 meters relay at the 1981 IAAF World Cup in Rome.
At his best, many people called him the "world's fastest man." He ran the 100 meters in 9.9 seconds four times, which matched the world record at that time. He also shared the world record for 220 yards with Don Quarrie, running it in 19.9 seconds in 1975.
Olympic Dreams and Challenges
Steve Williams was expected to win the 100 meters at the 1976 Olympics. However, an injury during the USA Olympic trials stopped him. He had to pull out of both the 100m and 200m races. The crowd cheered for him as he left the stadium, showing their support.
He tried to qualify for the Olympics again in 1980 and 1984, but he couldn't make the team. To qualify, he needed to finish in the top three.
Early Success and Training
Steve first showed his amazing talent in 1972 with fast times in the 100, 220, and 440-yard races. However, an injury at the 1972 Olympic Trials also prevented him from going to the Munich Olympics.
He became famous worldwide in 1973. He matched the world record for 100 yards (9.1 seconds). He also won both the 100 and 220-yard events at the AAU meet. He was the first person to do this since 1960. Plus, he helped the US team beat the Soviet sprinter Valeriy Borzov in a relay race in Minsk.
In 1973, he also set the fastest electronically timed 200-meter race, finishing in 20.33 seconds. His strong performance continued in 1974 and 1975, where he matched world records and won more championships.
After finishing college in 1976, Steve moved to Florida to train with his coach, Brooks Johnson. Steve learned a lot from Brooks about improving his running style. He once said, "I never realized how bad I was. I had been winning by accident." His unique running style was described as "quaint" and full of "soul, style, lousy starts and great finishes."
World Cup Victory and Relay Record
Steve's win at the 1977 IAAF Athletics World Cup was very important to him. He said it was "as close as I can get" to Olympic glory. He won the 100m race and then helped the US team set a world record in the sprint relay. Steve had a painful foot injury leading up to this competition, which made him limit his races. He also mentioned that swapping the baton between his hands during the relay might have cost the team an even faster time, but it was a natural move for him.
Steve Williams's Rankings
Experts from Track and Field News ranked Steve Williams among the best sprinters in the US and the world from 1972 to 1980.
He also showed early talent in the 400-meter race. In 1972, he was ranked seventh in the United States for the 400 meters.
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Personal Bests Each Year
These tables show Steve Williams's best times each year and how he ranked in the world.
- World rankings are based on the fastest time for each athlete.
- 220-yard times are changed to 200-meter times for comparison.
- Manual times (stopped by hand) have a small amount added to compare them with automatic times (stopped by machine).
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National Championships Wins
Steve Williams was a very strong competitor at the US national championships. For example, his second-place finish in the 100m in 1977 helped him qualify for the Athletics World Cup that year.
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He also won the United States indoor championship for the 60-yard dash in 1976.
Steve Williams's Life Story
Steve Williams grew up in The Bronx, New York City. He went to Evander Childs High School.
Early Life and Training
When he was a baby, Steve had to wear leg braces for six months to help correct his pigeon toes. He was always a fast runner as a child. In high school, he focused on the 220 and 440-yard races. He didn't seriously run the 100-yard race until his last year of high school. A police officer named Melvin Clark also coached him in youth programs, which helped build his competitive spirit. Steve believes his New York upbringing also made him very competitive.
His high school track coach, Duke Marshall, shared that because Steve had such long strides, he had to train in the school hallways instead of on the small gym track.
After high school, Steve went to the University of Texas at El Paso on a scholarship. After a year, he moved to San Diego State University. There, he studied television and film production and became a nationally recognized sprinter with the help of coach Dick Hill.
Life After Running
Steve Williams retired from running at age 30. He felt that 10 years in the sport was a good career back then, as it wasn't as profitable or supportive for athletes as it is today. Steve believes he helped change the sport from an amateur one to a professional one, where athletes like Carl Lewis could have successful and financially rewarding careers.
After retiring, Steve worked as a "speed coach" for several professional sports teams. These included the NY Mets baseball team, the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers football teams, the Montreal Expos baseball team, and the U.S. Tennis Association.
Steve has also designed sports shoes and holds patents for his designs. He is involved in companies in this field.
In 2020, Steve Williams was living in San Francisco with his wife, Flavia, whom he met in 2002.
Awards and Recognition
Steve Williams has received several important awards for his achievements:
- In November 2013, he was inducted into the United States National Track and Field Hall of Fame.
- In August 2016, he was inducted into the San Diego State University's Hall of Fame as part of their 2016 class.
