Willie Banks, USA, Athletics
Banks
is a three-time Olympian and the former world record holder (which he
held for twelve years) in the triple jump.
Banks has served as the Deputy Executive Director for the 1994
World Cup of Soccer and the Director of Athlete Services for the 1996
Atlanta Olympic Village. Taking
note of Banks’ international popularity and outstanding personal character
and leadership qualities, Time Magazine
once dubbed him “The United States Ambassador of Track and Field”.
Banks is the former vice president of the U.S. Track and Field
Federation and past chairman of the Athletes Advisory Committee.
Banks has written many articles for major publications around the
world about subjects ranging from training methods to legal principles
and has given more than 500 speeches in his lifetime to a wide variety
of audiences including more than 20 speeches in Japanese.
While working on the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, the Martin Luther
King, Jr. Women’s Association awarded Banks with their “Drum Major for
Justice” Award given to that individual who exemplifies a positive leadership
image.
