Paul Williams (athlete)
Encyclopedia
Paul Williams is a retired long-distance runner from Canada
, who represented his native country at three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1984. His best result was finishing in 21st place in the men's 10,000 metres at the 1984 Summer Olympics
in Los Angeles, California
. Williams is a four-time national champion
in the men's 5,000 metres.
.
Starting his career in the late 1960s as an age-class runner in the Beach community in Toronto's east end, he competed regularly in OFSSA track and cross-country competitions (from 1970-75) for Riverdale Collegiate, and went on to a stellar athletics career at both the University of Guelph and the University of Toronto.
Williams matured quickly as a young distance runner, especially under the influence of two powerful role models in the sport. One was Bruce Kidd, Canada's premier distance runner through the 1960s and the gold medallist over 6 miles at the 1962 Commonwealth Games. His other hero was "Jack" Tait
(1888-1971), Canada's champion miler of the British Empire in 1911, Canadian amateur middle-distance champion at 3 and 5 miles, world record holder indoors at 880 and 1000 yards, and a two-time Olympian in 1908 (London) and 1912 (Stockholm). Tait also happens to be Williams' grandfather.
Between 1983 and 1992, Williams held and/or broke several times the Canadian records for 3,0000 metres (7:46), 3,000 metres indoors (7:54), 5000 metres (13:22) and 10,000 metres (27:50). In 1984 his 27:55 10K performance made him the first Canadian ever to run under 28 minutes for 10,000 metres. In 1990, Williams won a bronze medal in the men's 10,000 metres at the Commonwealth Games (Auckland), and a gold medal in the Goodwill Games over 5,000 metres.
From 1983 to 2003, Williams was married to Lynn Kanuka, bronze medallist in the women's 3000 metres at the Los Angeles Olympics (1984), Commonwealth Games gold medallist in the women's 1,500 metres (1986), and multiple Canadian middle-distance record holder.
Paul now owns a running store called "Peninsula Runners" which is located in White Rock, BC, Langley, BC, and Victoria, BC.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, who represented his native country at three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1984. His best result was finishing in 21st place in the men's 10,000 metres at the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. Williams is a four-time national champion
National champions 5000 metres (men)
Below a list of all National champions in the Men's 5000 metres in track and field from several countries since 1980.- Australia:*1980: Stephen Austin*1981: Stephen Austin*1982: Stephen Austin*1983: Stephen Austin*1984: Steve Foley...
in the men's 5,000 metres.
Career
Williams was born in Ottawa, Ontario, the second son to Robert and Dorothy (Tait) Williams, and a grandson of Canadian long-distance runner John TaitJohn Tait (athlete)
John Tait was a Canadian athlete. Known as Canada's "Boy Wonder", he competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London and the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm. He was born in Toronto, Ontario.In 1908, at just 19 years of age, Tait won his first round heat of the 1500 metres with a time of 4:12.2...
.
Starting his career in the late 1960s as an age-class runner in the Beach community in Toronto's east end, he competed regularly in OFSSA track and cross-country competitions (from 1970-75) for Riverdale Collegiate, and went on to a stellar athletics career at both the University of Guelph and the University of Toronto.
Williams matured quickly as a young distance runner, especially under the influence of two powerful role models in the sport. One was Bruce Kidd, Canada's premier distance runner through the 1960s and the gold medallist over 6 miles at the 1962 Commonwealth Games. His other hero was "Jack" Tait
John Tait (athlete)
John Tait was a Canadian athlete. Known as Canada's "Boy Wonder", he competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London and the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm. He was born in Toronto, Ontario.In 1908, at just 19 years of age, Tait won his first round heat of the 1500 metres with a time of 4:12.2...
(1888-1971), Canada's champion miler of the British Empire in 1911, Canadian amateur middle-distance champion at 3 and 5 miles, world record holder indoors at 880 and 1000 yards, and a two-time Olympian in 1908 (London) and 1912 (Stockholm). Tait also happens to be Williams' grandfather.
Between 1983 and 1992, Williams held and/or broke several times the Canadian records for 3,0000 metres (7:46), 3,000 metres indoors (7:54), 5000 metres (13:22) and 10,000 metres (27:50). In 1984 his 27:55 10K performance made him the first Canadian ever to run under 28 minutes for 10,000 metres. In 1990, Williams won a bronze medal in the men's 10,000 metres at the Commonwealth Games (Auckland), and a gold medal in the Goodwill Games over 5,000 metres.
From 1983 to 2003, Williams was married to Lynn Kanuka, bronze medallist in the women's 3000 metres at the Los Angeles Olympics (1984), Commonwealth Games gold medallist in the women's 1,500 metres (1986), and multiple Canadian middle-distance record holder.
Paul now owns a running store called "Peninsula Runners" which is located in White Rock, BC, Langley, BC, and Victoria, BC.
See also
- Jack TaitJohn Tait (athlete)John Tait was a Canadian athlete. Known as Canada's "Boy Wonder", he competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London and the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm. He was born in Toronto, Ontario.In 1908, at just 19 years of age, Tait won his first round heat of the 1500 metres with a time of 4:12.2...
- Canadian Olympic Team - Lynn (Kanuka) Williams - Canadian Olympic Team