Willie Smith (sprinter) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Willie Smith

Personal information
Birth name	Willie James Smith III
Nationality	American
Born	(1956-02-28)February 28, 1956 Rochester, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	November 7, 2020(2020-11-07) (aged 64)
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight	161 lb (73 kg)
Sport
Sport	Running
Event(s)	400 meters
College team	Auburn Tigers
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	400m - 44.73 s (1978)
Medal record Men's Athletics Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 1984 Los Angeles 4x400 m relay Athletics World Cup Gold 1979 Montreal 4x400 m relay Gold 1981 Rome 4x400 m relay Pan American Games Bronze 1979 San Juan 400 metres World Student Games Silver 1977 Sofia 400 metres

Willie James Smith III (born February 28, 1956 – died November 7, 2020) was an American track and field star. He was best known as a top 400-meter runner. Willie won a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics. He was also a national champion in the 400 meters.

Willie Smith's College Track Days

Willie Smith went to Auburn University. He was a very successful athlete there. Before college, he was a famous high school sprinter. Track and Field News magazine even named him High School Athlete of the Year in 1974.

From Sprints to 400 Meters

Willie started his college career running short sprints. But he later switched to the longer 400-meter race. This happened because of some injuries. Also, new fast sprinters like Harvey Glance were coming up. Even so, Willie was good enough at 100 meters to be an alternate. He could have run for the U.S. 4 × 100-meter relay team. This was at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

At his new distance of 400 meters, Willie quickly became very good. He won two NCAA titles in this event. NCAA titles are like national championships for college athletes.

International Success in College

Willie also competed for his country while in college. He won a silver medal at the 1977 World Student Games. This was for the 400-meter race.

When he finished college in 1978, Willie received a big award. He was named Auburn University's Athlete of the Year.

Willie Smith's Professional Track Career

After college, Willie Smith kept running. He became the United States National Champion in the 400 meters twice. This happened in 1979 and 1980.

Pan American Games and the 1980 Olympics

In 1979, being the national champion earned him a spot on the U.S. team. He competed at the Pan American Games in the 400 meters. There, he won a bronze medal.

Willie finished second in the 400-meter final at the U.S. Olympic Trials for the 1980 Olympics. However, he could not compete in those games. This was because the United States boycotted them. Years later, he received a special Congressional Gold Medal. This medal honored athletes who missed the 1980 Olympics.

World Cup Wins and a Big Fall

Willie was also part of the winning U.S. 4 × 400-meter relay teams. They won at the 1979 and 1981 IAAF Athletics World Cups.

In 1983, he raced at the first-ever IAAF Athletics World Championships. He was on the American 4 × 400-meter relay team. During the race, he accidentally bumped into a Soviet Union runner. Willie fell, and the team lost their chance to win. He later said, "It was a stupid mistake. I almost quit the sport."

Olympic Gold and Later Attempts

In 1984, Willie finished sixth in the 400-meter final at the U.S. Olympic Trials. This qualified him for the 4 × 400-meter relay team. This team competed at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. The U.S. team won first place! Willie earned an Olympic gold medal. He had run in the qualifying races for the team.

Willie tried to qualify for the Olympics again in 1988 when he was 32. He did not make the team. He also tried again in 1996 at age 40 for the Atlanta Olympics. Even though he didn't qualify, he set a record for master's runners (older athletes).

After his running career, Willie created and worked at sports camps. These camps helped young people.

Awards and Recognition

In 1997, Willie Smith was added to the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. This is a special honor for great athletes from Alabama.

In 2000, he was honored again at Auburn University. He became one of six new stars on Auburn's Tiger Trail. This is like Hollywood's Walk of Fame, but for Auburn's famous people.

How Willie Smith Ranked in the World

Track and Field News magazine kept track of the best 400-meter runners. They ranked Willie Smith among the top runners in the U.S. and the world. This was from 1977 to 1985.

Willie Smith's USA Championships Results

Willie Smith was a very strong competitor at the USA National Track and Field Championships. Here are his results in the 400 meters between 1979 and 1983: