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Taleah Williams

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Taleah Williams
Personal information
Born (1997-02-21) February 21, 1997 (age 27)
Norfolk, Nebraska, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Nebraska Omaha
Doane University
Sport
SportPara-athletics
Disability classT47
Eventlong jump
Medal record
Women's para-athletics
Representing the  United States
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2017 London Long jump T47
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Paris Long jump T47
Parapan American Games
Silver medal – second place 2019 Lima Long Jump T47

Taleah Williams (born February 21, 1997) is an American Paralympic athlete specializing in long jump.

Early life and education

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Williams was born to Calvin and Priscilla Williams. She has five sisters, Amaya, LaShicka, LaShunda, LaTasha and Shernika, and two brothers, Calvin and Derrick.[1] She was born without her lower left arm.[2]

She attended Norfolk Senior High School in Norfolk, Nebraska, where she participates in track and field all four years. During the 2014–15 season, in her senior year, won the long jump event in both the conference and district meets, and finished in second place at the state class A championship.[3] She also played basketball for three years, and helped lead the Panthers to a class A runner up finish at the state championship during her senior year.[4] In 2023, she had her track jersey retired by the Norfolk Panthers.[5]

On April 15, 2015, she signed her national letter of intent to participate in track in field at the University of Nebraska Omaha.[6] She then transferred to Doane University.[7][8]

Career

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Williams made her international debut for the United States at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, and finished in fifth place in the long jump T47 event.[9] She then competed at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships in London, and won a gold medal in the long jump T47 event.[10]

In August 2019, she competed at the 2019 Parapan American Games in Lima, and won a silver medal in the long jump T47 event.[11] In November 2019, she competed at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai, and finished in sixth place in the long jump T47 event.[12]

She represented the United States at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, and finished in fourth place in the long jump T47 event with a jump of 5.39 meters.[13][14]

In July 2023, she competed at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris, and won a bronze medal in the long jump T47 event with a personal best jump of 5.65 meters.[15]

In July 2024, during the U.S. Paralympic team trials, she qualified to represent the United States at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.[16][17]

Personal life

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In addition to her Paralympic athletic career, Williams has a full-time job working at an eye doctor's office.[18]

References

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  1. ^ "Taleah Williams". teamusa.com. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  2. ^ Patterson, Mike (January 29, 2014). "Born without part of an arm, Williams is a key performer for Norfolk". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  3. ^ Benes, Nick (May 22, 2015). "Williams, Schindler lead city schools at state". Norfolk Daily News. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  4. ^ "Taleah Williams". omavs.com. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  5. ^ Miller, Dale (April 22, 2023). "Williams has jersey retired by Panthers". Norfolk Daily News. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  6. ^ Benes, Nick (April 15, 2015). "Williams signs with UNO track". Norfolk Daily News. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  7. ^ Petersen, Ron (March 17, 2021). "Among the world's best long jumpers, Norfolk High grad is excited for upcoming Paralympics". Norfolk Daily News. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  8. ^ Price, Jessica (March 22, 2021). "Taleah Wiliams Overcomes Fears On Way To Becoming World Champion". usparatf.org. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  9. ^ "Norfolk High grad takes fifth at Paralympic Games". Norfolk Daily News. September 9, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  10. ^ "Para athletics: 2017 field season review". paralympic.org. December 28, 2017. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  11. ^ Eisenberg, Josh (August 26, 2019). "2019 Lima Parapan Games – USA Claims Three Medals". sportsnspokes.com. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  12. ^ Schinzel, Gene (August 25, 2021). "'I'm going for the gold': Paralympic experience goes a long way for Nebraskan". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  13. ^ Petersen, Ron (August 14, 2021). "Williams one of 240 athletes officially named to 2020 USA Paralympic team". Norfolk Daily News. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  14. ^ "Williams finishes fourth in Tokyo". Norfolk Daily News. September 3, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  15. ^ Gowdy, Kristen (July 16, 2023). "Mitchell, Houston, Williams earn medals on penultimate day of World Para Athletics Championships". usparatf.org. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  16. ^ "Blackwell, Williams Qualifies for Paris 2024 Paralympics". doaneathletics.com. July 21, 2024. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  17. ^ Gowdy, Kristen (July 21, 2024). "Fifty-four Athletes Nominated to U.S. Paralympic Track & Field Team". usparatf.org. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  18. ^ Moore, Lela (March 13, 2024). "A Packed 2024 Season Could Have Taleah Williams Piling Up PTO Requests". usparatf.org. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
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