1. William Augustus Banks III was born on March 11,1956 and is an American athlete.
13 Facts About Willie Banks
1. 2.
Willie Banks finished second in the NCAA Championships in 1977 and 1978.
3.
Willie Banks broke the American triple jump record in 1981.
4.
Willie Banks was one of 461 athletes to receive a Congressional Gold Medal instead.
5.
Willie Banks was a member of the 1984 and 1988 Olympic teams and participated with the 1983 and 1987 IAAF World Championships in Athletics World Championship teams.
6.
Willie Banks is the originator of the now common hand clapping that takes place during many track and field events, and which he first did at DN-galan in 1981.
7.
Willie Banks has been reported as laughing during some of his jumps.
8.
Willie Banks held that record for over ten years until Jonathan Edwards broke it for the first time in 1995 with 17.98m.
9.
Willie Banks won the 2007 World Masters Athletics Championships in that same age group.
10.
On September 22,2012, Willie Banks became the oldest American to clear 6 feet in the high jump at the age of 56 using just a 3-step approach and the classic "roll" technique.
11.
Willie Banks was President of the US Olympians Association from 2005 to 2008.
12.
Willie Banks was on a panel on an ESPN "Outside the Lines" episode regarding athlete involvement in social issues, dated May 18,2008.
13.
Willie Banks was ranked among the best in the US and the world over the incredible spread of 18 seasons from 1975 to 1992, including twice world number 1 in 1981 and 1985, according to the votes of the experts of Track and Field News.