Willie Banks
Biographical information
| Roles | Competed in Olympic Games |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Full name | William Augustus "Willie"•Banks, III |
| Used name | Willie•Banks |
| Born | 11 March 1956 in Travis Air Force Base, California (USA) |
| Measurements | 190 cm / 77 kg |
| Affiliations | Mazda Optimist Track Club, (USA) |
| NOC |  United States |
Biography
A four-time TAC triple jump champion (1980-81, 83, 85), in 1985 Willie Banks won that meet with 17.97 (58-11½) to become the first American since Daniel Ahearn in 1911 to set a triple jump world record. Banks had a long career internationally, first representing the US at the 1977 Universiade (3rd). He won that event in 1979 and was 1985 World Cup champion, and won two silver medals at the Pan American Games (1979, 1987) and was runner up at the 1983 World Championships. He became a lawyer, but still competed, and was known as “The Bounding Barrister”.
Personal Bests: HJ – 2.08 (6-10) (1977); LJ – 8.11 (26-7¼) (1981); TJ – 17.97 (58-11½) (1985).
Results
| Games | Discipline (Sport) / Event | NOC / Team | Pos | Medal | As | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 Summer Olympics | Athletics | USA |
Willie Banks | |||
| Triple Jump, Men (Olympic) | 6 | |||||
| 1988 Summer Olympics | Athletics | USA |
Willie Banks | |||
| Triple Jump, Men (Olympic) | 6 |
Special Notes
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the Summer Pan American Games (0–2–0 1979 San Juan ATH silver: triple jump; 1987 Indianapolis ATH silver: triple jump)
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the Summer Universiade (1–0–1 1977 Sofia ATH bronze: triple jump; 1979 Ciudad de México ATH gold: triple jump)
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the World Athletics Championships (0–1–0 1983 Helsinki silver: triple jump)