Former Track and Field All-American Ben Williams Named to Great Britain Olympic Roster
July 01, 2021 | Track & Field
Former University of Louisville track and field All-American Ben Williams will represent Great Britain in the triple jump at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Â
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Williams, a native of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, is making his first Olympic appearance after recovering from a knee injury which caused him to miss out on the 2018 Commonwealth Games, the Rio 2016 Olympics and the London 2012 Olympic Games.
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Currently ranked No. 21 in the world, Williams became the first British triple jumper in seven years to hit the Olympic standard with a leap of 17.14m (56-2.75) when he won the gold medal at the European Athletics Team Championships in August 2019. He went on to achieve a lifetime best jump of 17.27m in the first round of the British Championships to claim the national title and secure an Olympic berth.
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He also qualified for the 2019 World Championships where he finished in 10th place with a jump of 16.77m (55-0.25). Previously, Williams had finished second at the 2017 Team Championships Super League with a leap of 16.73m (54-10.75). In 2009, he won the triple jump at the IAAF World Youth Championship.
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Williams, who competed for the Cardinals from 2013-16, was a two-time NCAA Outdoor All-American, earning first team honors in 2015 and was a second team performer in 2016. Additionally, he won back-to-back ACC titles in the triple jump in 2015 and 2016. He also owns the school triple jump record of 16.74 (54-11.25) which secured a fourth-place finish at the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Â
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Williams, a native of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, is making his first Olympic appearance after recovering from a knee injury which caused him to miss out on the 2018 Commonwealth Games, the Rio 2016 Olympics and the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Â
Currently ranked No. 21 in the world, Williams became the first British triple jumper in seven years to hit the Olympic standard with a leap of 17.14m (56-2.75) when he won the gold medal at the European Athletics Team Championships in August 2019. He went on to achieve a lifetime best jump of 17.27m in the first round of the British Championships to claim the national title and secure an Olympic berth.
Â
He also qualified for the 2019 World Championships where he finished in 10th place with a jump of 16.77m (55-0.25). Previously, Williams had finished second at the 2017 Team Championships Super League with a leap of 16.73m (54-10.75). In 2009, he won the triple jump at the IAAF World Youth Championship.
Â
Williams, who competed for the Cardinals from 2013-16, was a two-time NCAA Outdoor All-American, earning first team honors in 2015 and was a second team performer in 2016. Additionally, he won back-to-back ACC titles in the triple jump in 2015 and 2016. He also owns the school triple jump record of 16.74 (54-11.25) which secured a fourth-place finish at the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Â
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