Trae Williams (sprinter)

Trae Williams (born 5 May 1997[3]) is an Australian track and field sprinter. Williams is the 2018 Australian men's 100-metre athletic champion, having been the runner-up and first-placed Australian in 2017. He is the fifth-fastest Australian of all time with a personal best time of 10.10 seconds achieved on 16 February 2018, after Patrick Johnson (9.93 in 2003), Rohan Browning (10.01 in 2021), Matt Shirvington (10.03 in 1998) and Josh Ross (10.08 in 2007).[4][5]

Trae Williams
Personal information
NicknameQuadzilla
Born (1997-05-05) 5 May 1997 (age 27)
South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
EducationSt John's Anglican College, Brisbane[1]
Height170 cm (5 ft 7 in)[2]
Weight76 kg (168 lb)
Sport
Country Australia
SportMen's Athletics
Event(s)100 metres, 200 metres
Coached byDaniel Williams[3]
Achievements and titles
National finals
Personal bests10.1 seconds 2018 National Athletics Championships, Gold Coast): Men's 100 m
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Australia
Youth Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Nanjing 100 metres

Williams made the decision in August, 2020 to switch from athletics to rugby sevens. This was a gamble as it was uncertain whether he would make the Australian Rugby Sevens 2020 Olympics team.[6] He was not part of the squad that went to Tokyo.[7]

Early years

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Aged 16 years, Williams won the bronze medal for the 100 metres at the 2014 Nanjing Summer Youth Olympics.[3]

Educated at the St John's Anglican College, Brisbane, Williams played rugby union and rugby league as a schoolboy and considered playing for the Brisbane Broncos in the National Rugby League before focussing on a career in athletics.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Stannard, Damien (4 December 2014). "Olympics or NRL? Teenage prodigy Trae Williams is torn between two dreams". Courier-Mail. Brisbane. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  2. ^ "Trae WILLIAMS". results.gc2018.com. 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d "Trae Williams (Qld)". Athlete profile. Athletics Australia. 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  4. ^ Salvado, John (17 February 2018). "Trae Williams: Quadzilla sprinter nails stunning 10.10sec 100m to win national title". news.com.au. AAP. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  5. ^ Gullen, Scott (17 February 2018). "Trae Williams clocks fourth-fastest 100m time by Australian in history". Herald Sun. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  6. ^ world.rugby. "Australian sevens speedster Trae Williams on why he switched from athletics to rugby | Rugby World Cup". www.rugbyworldcup.com. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo 2021". The Roar. Retrieved 9 September 2021.