Percy Williams

Percy Williams ( born May 19, 1908 in Vancouver, British Columbia, † November 29, 1982 in Vancouver, British Columbia) was a Canadian athlete. At the Olympic Games in Amsterdam in 1928, he was two -time Olympic champion over the sprint distances.

Biography

Williams won in 1928 unexpectedly at the age of 20 years, the Canadian qualifying race for participation in the Olympic Games in Amsterdam. There he effortlessly reached the final. Thanks to a good startes Williams was already an early lead and eventually won the race in 10.8 seconds before the British Jack London and the German Georg Lammers.

Also about 200 meters Williams was successful. In time of 21.9 seconds, he won the Brit Walter Rangeley and Helmut Körnig from Germany. Upon returning to his home, he was greeted with enthusiasm by his compatriots.

In subsequent years, Williams asked repeatedly demonstrated that his Olympic victories were not random successes. In the British Empire Games in 1930 in Hamilton, he won the race in the 100 meters and placed in 10.3 seconds set a new world record.

The officials of the American Association of Athletics Federations, who looked enviously on the northern border, organized a series of indoor competitions, in which the U.S. sprinting should prove that they are stronger than their Canadian counterparty. To the surprise of the organizers Williams won 19 of the 21 scheduled races.

A pulled muscle in his thigh broke his winning streak for a while. After that, he could never quite match his earlier achievements. In the Summer Olympics 1932 in Los Angeles, he already retired from the quarter-finals. Williams finished his active career and then became an insurance agent.

Williams lived with his mother until her death in 1977. After her death, he grew lonely, troubled by the constant pain that caused his arthritis. On November 29, 1982, Williams took his own life.