Name: Jesse Williams
Date of birth: December 27, 1983
Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina
High School: Broughton High School (Raleigh, North Carolina)
College: North Carolina State, Southern California, 2006
Current residence: Eugene, Oregon
Coach: Cliff Rovelto
Primary event: High jump
Personal bests:
 • High jump, 2.37m/7 feet, 9 ¼ inches
 • Long jump, 7.53m/24 feet, 8 ½ inches
Career achievements:
 • High jump
   - 2011 IAAF World Championship gold medalist
   - 2012 Olympic finalist
   - 2008 Olympic qualifier
   - Four-time IAAF World Championship qualifier (2005, ’07, ’13, '15)
   - Three-time IAAF World Indoor Championship finalist (2008, ’10, ’12)
   - Two-time USA outdoor champion (2010, ’11)
   - Two-time USA indoor champion (2010, ’12)
   - 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials champion
   - 2006 NCAA indoor champion
   - 2005 NCAA outdoor champion
Awards/Honors: 2011 Jesse Owens Award winner; 2005 Pac-10 men’s field athlete of the year.

What is your favorite and/or least favorite workout? Favorite workouts are when I am lifting heavy weights over my head.  And my least favorite workouts include anything running over 100m.  

Do you have any superstitions? I have done the same competition warm-up since my junior year in high school.  I have literally taken the same number of steps in all my warm-ups over the last 13 years.  I also listen to the same song right before I step out on the competition grounds.  That song is a secret.  

Why have you chosen to live and train in Eugene? What better place to be for track and field than TrackTown USA.  I love Eugene. 

What is the most challenging moment you’ve faced as an athlete? Tearing a ligament in my foot last year.

Why have you chosen to jump for Coach Cliff Rovelto? Coach Rovelto is one of the smartest people I have ever met. His life is athletics and he is incredibly knowledgable about every event in the sport. He has had and will continue to have success in the sport as a coach.  

What is your favorite track and field meet? DN Galan Stockholm, Sweden.

What drives you to work so hard? Winning an Olympic Gold medal.

What is an interesting fact about you that we may not know? I am a landlord and handyman and love it.  

What is the coolest experience you’ve had as a Nike athlete? I have been a Nike athlete since 2006 and have had so many great experiences but winning the World Champs was a pretty cool experience.  

What is your dream job after your athletic career? To run my own training facility. I would train athletes in speed, strength and power development. 

Who or what has been your greatest inspiration as an athlete? My mother. Her work ethic inspires me on a daily basis.  

What do you do to unwind after a long season? Nothing. I love being a bum after a long season.  

What is the key to your success? The Lord Jesus Christ who gives me the strength to do anything.  

What are your other favorite sports? Basketball even though I can’t play until I am done high jumping.  

What makes you different? I am 6 feet tall and have high jumped 7-9.25.