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Willie Banks

@williebanks

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THIS IS DISAPPOINTING—and it deserves a serious question: WHY? It’s called TRACK & FIELD. Not just TRACK. So why does our sport continue to talk about eliminating, reducing, or pushing aside field events—the very events that have produced some of the greatest athletes, rivalries and Olympic moments in history? I’ve lived this sport from both sides: as an Olympic Triple Jump Champion and as a coach who has worked with athletes from the developmental level all the way to the Olympic and Paralympic podium. And after all these years, I still have to ask: WHEN WILL OUR SPORT LEARN TO PROTECT ITS OWN PRODUCT? We talk about ticket sales. We talk about television rights. We talk about sponsorships, ratings and growing the sport. But somehow we keep forgetting the most important part: THE ATHLETES ARE THE PRODUCT. No athletes—no performances. No performances—no fans. No fans—no television rights, sponsorships or ticket sales. And yet, historically, the athletes themselves have too often been the last ones considered and have never received the true value they bring to the sport. Field-event athletes are not an inconvenience that needs to be squeezed into a television window. THEY ARE TRACK & FIELD. So here's the question for the decision-makers: Are we truly trying to grow our sport—or are we slowly dismantling the very diversity of events that makes Track & Field great? Because you cannot keep removing the FIELD and still honestly call it TRACK & FIELD. Protect the athletes. Protect the events. Protect the history. Protect the future of our sport. In My Humble Opinion… Al Joyner, OLY 1984 Olympic Triple Jump Champion 🥇 Olympic High Performance Podium Coach @aljoyner84
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Djelika est la preuve que l’on a une idée parcellaire de ce qu’est réellement le talent. La plupart de nos champions du monde junior étaient des cracks depuis les catégories minimes / cadets (vous en avez tous en tête). Djelika représente tous ces athlètes qui font des performances modestes à leurs débuts. Ces athlètes à qui on accorde peu d’attention, peu d’ambitions. Ces athlètes qui doivent provoquer le destin par la force de leurs décisions. C’est l’une des raisons pour lesquelles j’entraîne. Pour moi, le point de départ ce n’est pas la performance ou les « fameuses » qualités physiques, ça tout le monde le voit. Pour moi, c’est l’identité. Ce qui m’a frappé chez Djelika, c’est elle qui a fait la démarche de changer de cadre d’entraînement à seulement 16 ans. Très vite, j’ai senti qu’elle avait l’étoffe des grands champions. Je suis très heureux que Djelika et ses 4m50 en longueur en 2023 (cadette 1) ai montré que tout le monde a le droit de rêver. Au fond, le plus important c’est peut-être d’avoir la foi. En soi, en son entraîneur, son groupe, ses proches, et tous ceux et celles qui sont prêts à nous aider à nous élever au-delà de l’athlé. Aujourd’hui elle est championne du monde. Elle avait donc raison d’y croire, Allons écrire la suite de l’histoire… Merci Djelika ❤️
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One of the highlights of the World Athletics U20 Championships was hosting our World Athletics family, federation leaders, corporate partners, sponsors, and friends for an evening of fellowship in Eugene. It was a privilege to welcome so many people who invest their time, talent, and resources into growing our sport around the world. The reception I hosted with USATF President Curt Clausen, brought together leaders from across the global athletics community. Championships are about more than competition. They are about relationships, collaboration, and a shared commitment to creating opportunities for the next generation of athletes. Thank you to everyone who joined us, and congratulations to all of the athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, and organizers who made Oregon 2026 such a memorable championship. #WorldAthletics #Oregon26 #TeamUSA #USATF #TrackAndField Leadership SportDiplomacy GlobalAthletics
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Oregon 🇺🇸 Ready day one tomorrow 💪🏽
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World Record Camps 🏆🥇
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Congratulations to my Big Dawg Dr.Andre Phillips..Way over Due! But Congratulations I will be there! @dr.andrephillips_oly #drandrephillpsuclahof #aljoynerolympic
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. 先日のお話。 元三段跳び世界記録保持者の ウィリーバンクスさん夫妻が @williebanks @cindybanks11 当店にお越しくださいました！！！ 私用でアメリカ🇺🇸から日本に訪れる際、友人から 『日本にはこんな素晴らしい和菓子屋があるんだよ』 とご紹介されたそうです。 その友人はSNSで当店を知ったそうです😌 海外まで届くSNSの力はほんとすごいと思いました！！ インフルエンサーの方々、ありがとうございます😊 自分達はウィリーバンクスさんだと気付かず、 わざわざ訪れてくれた方だと思い、 世間話や過去の経緯を話していたら、 中京大学で講師をしていたと知りました。 そしたらちょうどお店に居合わせたお客様2人が 中京大学の卒業生という偶然の出来事が。 そのお客様がウィリーバンクスさんに気づき、 自分達に『すごい人だよ！』と教えてくれました。 もしそのお客様がいなかったら、 失礼ながら気づかなかったです。 それと同時に自分も高校時代、 中京大学の入試に落ちたのを思い出しました。笑 ほんと偶然の出会いに驚いた1日となりました！ 運命ってすごいですね(^^) ほんとお越しいただきありがとうございました😊 また日本にお越しの際はよろしくお願いします🙇 __________________________________________ . The story of the other day. Former triple jump world record holder Mr. and Mrs. Willie Banks @Williebanks @cindybanks11 Thank you for coming to our shop!!! When visiting Japan from the United States 🇺🇸 for personal use, from a friend "There is such a wonderful Japanese confectionery shop in Japan." It seems that it was introduced. That friend found out about our shop on SNS😌 I thought the power of SNS to reach overseas was really amazing!! Thank you, influencers😊 We didn't realize that we were Mr. Willie Banks, I thought he was the one who came all the way to visit, If you are talking about small talk and past background, I learned that you were a l
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The Bouncing Barrister. Banks wasn’t just a great jumper. He was one of the sport’s great entertainers, helping popularise the rhythmic crowd clapping that has become synonymous with the jumps events. 🇺🇸 Willie Banks 📍 Indianapolis, USA 📏 Triple Jump 🏆 World Record 🔥 17.97m #TrackAndField #TripleJump #WillieBanks #WorldRecord #OnThisDay #AthleticsHistory
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Forever grateful for this season.
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Amazing event at the LA Coliseum today honoring Al Franken with the World Athletics Heritage Plaque. So many great athletes in attendance (including former Laker Michael Cooper!)
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