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 was an amazing track and field sprinter from the United States. He was born on November 13, 1953. He was so fast that he 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 Olympics, Steve Williams had great success at the IAAF World Cup. He won the 100-meter race and helped the US team set a world record in the 4×100-meter relay in 1977. He also won American titles in the 100-yard and 220-yard races in 1973. He won the 100-meter title again in 1974.
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Steve Williams's Running Career
Steve Williams was known as one of the fastest runners in the world during his best years. He matched the world record for the 100 meters four times with a time of 9.9 seconds. He also held the world record for 220 yards (19.9 seconds) with another great runner, Don Quarrie.
Winning Big Races
In 1977, Steve Williams won the 100 meters at the IAAF Athletics World Cup in Düsseldorf, Germany. He was representing the United States. He also helped the USA 4x100 meters relay team set a new world record. The team, which included Bill Collins, Steve Riddick, and Cliff Wiley, finished in an amazing 38.03 seconds. This moment is considered one of the top 10 World Cup moments for men's athletics. Steve Williams also earned a bronze medal with the USA 4x100 meters relay team at the 1981 IAAF World Cup in Rome.
Olympic Dreams and Challenges
Steve Williams was a favorite to win the 100 meters at the 1976 Olympics. However, an injury during the USA Olympics trials stopped him. He had pulled a muscle earlier that season, and it happened again. He had to stop running in the middle of his race. The crowd cheered for him as he left the stadium, feeling sad. This injury also meant he couldn't compete in the 200-meter trial.
He tried to qualify for the Olympics again in 1980 and 1984. He finished 6th in 1980 and was eliminated in the quarter-finals in 1984. He needed to finish in the top three to make the team, but he couldn't quite do it.
Early Success and World Recognition
Steve Williams first showed his amazing talent in 1972. He ran very fast times in the 100, 220, and 440-yard races. However, an injury in the 200-meter event at the Olympic Trials kept him from going to the 1972 Munich Olympics.
He became famous worldwide in 1973. First, he matched the world record for 100 yards (9.1 seconds). Second, he won both the 100 and 220-yard events at the AAU meet. He was the first person to do this since Ray Norton in 1960. Third, he beat the famous Soviet sprinter Valeriy Borzov in a sprint relay race.
In 1973, he also set the world's best electronically timed performance in the men's 200 meters. He ran it in 20.33 seconds in Bakersfield. His great performance continued into 1974 and 1975. In 1974, he matched the 100m world record and won his short sprint title again. In 1975, he matched the 200m world record. He also won the French national championship and the British AAA Championships title in 1974.
Training and Running Style
After finishing his studies at San Diego State University in 1976, Steve Williams moved to Florida. He worked with his coach, Brooks Johnson, at the Florida Track Club. He wanted to achieve his Olympic dream and reach "human excellence." Williams said that his coach helped him see how much he could improve his running style.
His running style was unique, described as a "bobbing-and-weaving, shoulder-rolling style." People said he won races with "soul, style, lousy starts and great finishes." Even though he matched the 100-meter world record early in 1976, his Olympic dream remained unfulfilled. Other Olympic medalists, like Hasely Crawford and Don Quarrie, believed that if Williams had been there, a new world record might have been set.
Overcoming Challenges
Steve Williams was disappointed about missing the Olympics. But his success at the 1977 IAAF Athletics World Cup helped. He said, "This is as close as I can get." He won the 100 meters by a small margin and then helped the US team set a world record in the sprint relay.
He had a painful bone spur in his foot before the competition. This meant he had to limit his races. He even leaned forward too early at the finish of the 100 meters because of the pain. Williams also mentioned that swapping the baton between his hands during the relay might have kept the team from running under 38 seconds. However, he said it was a natural movement for him, used by other great sprinters like Carl Lewis and Usain Bolt.
Top Rankings
Experts from Track and Field News ranked Steve Williams among the best sprinters in the US and the world. This was for both the 100 and 200-meter events from 1972 to 1980.
He also showed early talent as a 400-meter runner. In 1972, he was ranked seventh in the United States for the 400 meters.
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Life Outside the Track
Steve Williams grew up in The Bronx, New York City. He went to Evander Childs High School. When he was a baby, his legs needed braces for six months to help with a condition called "pigeon toes," where his feet pointed inward. He was always a fast runner as a child. In school, he focused on 220 and 440-yard races. He didn't seriously run the 100-yard race until his last year of high school.
His high school coach, Duke Marshall, wrote about how Steve had to train in the school hallways. This was because his stride was so long, and the school gym track was too small and steeply banked.
After high school, he 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. With coach Dick Hill, he became a nationally recognized sprinter.
In the 1980s, Steve Williams was married to Robin Robinson, a news anchor for WFLD in Chicago.
Advocating for Athletes
Steve Williams was a strong supporter of other athletes' rights. He often worked with influential athletes like high-jumper Dwight Stones. Carl Lewis, another famous sprinter, said that Williams patiently advised younger athletes.
Williams retired from the sport at age 30. He felt that 10 years was a good career back then. The sport wasn't as profitable or as well-equipped for athlete care as it is now. Williams believes he helped move the sport from an amateur (unpaid) world to a professional one. This allowed athletes like Carl Lewis to have financially successful careers and stay in the sport longer.
After Retirement
After retiring from running, Steve Williams worked as a "speed coach" for several professional sports teams. These included the NY Mets baseball team, the New York Jets football team, the San Francisco 49ers football team, and the Montreal Expos baseball team. He also worked for the U.S. Tennis Association.
Steve Williams has also designed sports shoes and holds patents for his designs. He is involved in companies that work in this field. As of 2020, he lives in San Francisco with his wife, Flavia, whom he met in 2002.
Awards and Recognition
Steve Williams has received special honors for his amazing career:
- In November 2013, he was inducted into the United States National Track and Field Hall of Fame.
- In August 2016, he was inducted into San Diego State University's Hall of Fame.
