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Willie Smith (sprinter)
Willie James Smith III (February 28, 1956 – November 7, 2020) was an American athlete who was the national champion 400 metres runner in 1979-80, and a gold medal winner at the 1984 Olympics in the 4 × 400 m relay.
Smith attended Auburn University, where he was a successful athlete for the Auburn Tigers. Smith arrived at Auburn as a nationally renowned high-school sprinter from his time at Uniondale High School, New York. Track and Field News named him High School Athlete of the Year in 1974.
Smith started his college career as a sprinter. He then switched to the longer distance of 400 m., prompted by injuries incurred in shorter sprints, and by the emergence of competition from up-and-coming sprinters like Harvey Glance. Despite this, Smith was a successful enough 100 m. sprinter to be an alternate for the United States 4 × 100 m. relay team at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Having finished fifth in the 100 m. final at the United States Olympic Trials, he was placed in the third qualifying position up to 80 m. of the race.
At his new distance of 400 m., Smith quickly achieved national success, winning the 1978 and 1979 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships titles at the distance. Smith was also runner-up in the 400 meters at the 1978 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, behind Cal winner Billy Mullins whose title was later revoked due to academic ineligibility.
Internationally, Smith won a silver medal at the 1977 World Student Games at 400 m.
When he graduated in 1978, Smith received his university's top honor of Athlete of the Year.
After graduation, Smith continued as an athlete. He was twice United States National Champion at 400m., in 1979 and 1980. His reward in 1979 was a place on the American team for the Pan American Games at 400 m. Here he won bronze. Smith, as American No. 1 was expected to be the main rival to the great Cuban athlete Alberto Juantorena. In the end, a foot injury and a problem with a shoe, plus an inspired piece of running by his American colleague Tony Darden, meant it was Darden and not him who beat Juantorena into second.
Smith finished second in the 400 m. final at the United States Olympic Trials for the 1980 Olympics. He was unable to compete due to the United States boycott of those games. A defeat of the Olympic champion Viktor Markin was little consolation. Years later, he did receive one of 461 Congressional Gold Medals created especially for the spurned athletes.
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Willie Smith (sprinter)
Willie James Smith III (February 28, 1956 – November 7, 2020) was an American athlete who was the national champion 400 metres runner in 1979-80, and a gold medal winner at the 1984 Olympics in the 4 × 400 m relay.
Smith attended Auburn University, where he was a successful athlete for the Auburn Tigers. Smith arrived at Auburn as a nationally renowned high-school sprinter from his time at Uniondale High School, New York. Track and Field News named him High School Athlete of the Year in 1974.
Smith started his college career as a sprinter. He then switched to the longer distance of 400 m., prompted by injuries incurred in shorter sprints, and by the emergence of competition from up-and-coming sprinters like Harvey Glance. Despite this, Smith was a successful enough 100 m. sprinter to be an alternate for the United States 4 × 100 m. relay team at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Having finished fifth in the 100 m. final at the United States Olympic Trials, he was placed in the third qualifying position up to 80 m. of the race.
At his new distance of 400 m., Smith quickly achieved national success, winning the 1978 and 1979 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships titles at the distance. Smith was also runner-up in the 400 meters at the 1978 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, behind Cal winner Billy Mullins whose title was later revoked due to academic ineligibility.
Internationally, Smith won a silver medal at the 1977 World Student Games at 400 m.
When he graduated in 1978, Smith received his university's top honor of Athlete of the Year.
After graduation, Smith continued as an athlete. He was twice United States National Champion at 400m., in 1979 and 1980. His reward in 1979 was a place on the American team for the Pan American Games at 400 m. Here he won bronze. Smith, as American No. 1 was expected to be the main rival to the great Cuban athlete Alberto Juantorena. In the end, a foot injury and a problem with a shoe, plus an inspired piece of running by his American colleague Tony Darden, meant it was Darden and not him who beat Juantorena into second.
Smith finished second in the 400 m. final at the United States Olympic Trials for the 1980 Olympics. He was unable to compete due to the United States boycott of those games. A defeat of the Olympic champion Viktor Markin was little consolation. Years later, he did receive one of 461 Congressional Gold Medals created especially for the spurned athletes.