Willie Banks facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Willie Banks

Banks in 1988
Personal information
Born	March 11, 1956 (1956-03-11) (age 69)
Sport
Coached by	Randy Huntington
Medal record Men's athletics Representing the  United States World Championships Silver 1983 Helsinki Triple jump

Willie Banks in 1984

William Augustus Banks III (born March 11, 1956) is a famous American athlete. He was born in California and grew up in San Diego County. He even became an Eagle Scout, which is the highest rank in the Boy Scouts.

Track and Field Achievements

Willie Banks was a top track and field athlete, specializing in the triple jump. This event involves three jumps in a row: a hop, a step, and then a jump into a sand pit.

On June 16, 1985, Willie Banks set a new world record in the triple jump! He jumped an amazing 17.97 meters (about 58 feet 11.5 inches) at a competition in Indianapolis, USA. He held this record for over ten years. He also had another very long jump of 18.20 meters in 1988, but it was helped by too much wind, so it didn't count as a new record.

Banks was a very exciting athlete to watch. He was known for starting the hand clapping that many fans now do at track and field events to cheer on athletes. He even sometimes laughed during his jumps because he was having so much fun!

Olympic and Championship Participation

Willie Banks was a member of the U.S. Olympic team in 1984 and 1988. He also competed in the World Championships in 1983 and 1987.

He was chosen for the 1980 U.S. Olympic team, but he couldn't compete. This was because the United States decided to boycott (not go to) the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Russia. Instead, he was one of many athletes who received a special Congressional Gold Medal for their achievements.

Willie Banks was named Athlete of the Year in 1985 by Track & Field News and the United States Olympic Committee. He also won the Jesse Owens Award, which is given to outstanding track and field athletes.

Hall of Fame and Later Career

Willie Banks was honored for his amazing career when he was inducted into the USA National Track & Field Hall of Fame in 1999. Even after retiring from top-level competition, he continued to jump.

In 2006, when he was 50 years old, he jumped 14.00 meters! This was one of the best jumps in the world for his age group. He even won the 2007 World Masters Athletics Championships for athletes in his age group. In 2012, at age 56, he became the oldest American to clear 6 feet in the high jump.

Leadership Roles

Willie Banks has also been a leader in the world of sports. He served as the President of the US Olympians Association from 2005 to 2008. He also joined the board of directors for USA Track & Field (USATF).

In 2019, he was the President and CEO of the group that organized the first-ever ANOC 2019 World Beach Games in San Diego.

World Rankings

Willie Banks was considered one of the best triple jumpers in the world for many years. Experts from Track and Field News ranked him among the top athletes from 1975 to 1992. He was even ranked number one in the world twice, in 1981 and 1985!

See also

In Spanish: Willie Banks para niños

• World Fit