Lauryn Williams - Olympic Runner

One of the fastest sprinters in the world, track and field star Lauryn Williams was a surprise winner of the 100m silver medal at the 2004 summer Olympic games in Athens, and is a hopeful for a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. While Lauryn stands only 5' 3" high, she likes to say that her shorter legs mean quicker steps that make her hard to beat.

Early Life:

Lauryn Chenet Williams was born 11 September 1983 in Pittsburgh, PA to David and Donna Williams - one of eight siblings, including five sisters (Kourtney, Schureen, Erikka, Teresa, Erin) and two brothers (David, David). Lauryn grew up in Rochester, PA, in Beaver County, as well as in Detroit, and graduated in 2001 from Rochester High School. When she made the U.S. Olympic Team in 2004, local charities in her hometown of Pittsburgh raised enough money to send her mother and father to the games to watch her compete.

Best Known For:

Winning a surprise silver medal in the 100-Meters during the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens in her first year as a professional track and field athlete. She was the youngest woman in 32 years to win an Olympic medal in that event.

Career Highlights:

At Rochester High School, where she was coached by Roger Price, Lauryn set the Pennsylvania state rcord for 100 and 200-meter sprints, and was State champion her senior year in 4x100 relay. She was also a member of the National Honor Society and four-year class president.

Following an outstanding high school career, Lauryn Williams continued her excellence on the track at the University of Miami, where she was the 2004 NCAA 100-Meter National Champion. Lauryn is also a nine-time All-American and 11-time Big East Champion. In 2005, she placed third at the U.S. championships, then won the world-championship gold medal in Helsinki, Finland. In 2007, she was second at nationals and followed that with a world silver medal in Osaka, Japan (after a much deliberated photo finish).

Interesting Facts About Lauryn Williams:

Lauryn Williams says she draws her strength from her godmother, the late Dr. Sophie Womack. Dr. Womack, the chief of neonatology at Sinai-Grace Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, died in February, 2008, of complications following surgery.

One of Williams' favorite slogans is "Sub 11," a reference to her continuing goal to finish each 100-meter race in less than 11 seconds.

After winning the silver medal in the 2004 Summer Olympics, Lauryn Williams established a scholarship in her name for female athletes. For every race she runs in under 11 seconds she donates $1000 to the fund.

Lauryn Williams also joined Right To Play as an Athlete Ambassador in 2005.