Taleah Williams
Taleah Williams is an American Paralympic athlete specializing in long jump.
Early life and education
Williams was born to Calvin and Priscilla Williams. She has five sisters, Amaya, LaShicka, LaShunda, LaTasha and Shernika, and two brothers, Calvin and Derrick. She was born without her lower left arm.She attended Norfolk [Senior High School] in Norfolk, Nebraska, where she participates in track and field all four years. During the 2014–15 season, in her senior year, won the long jump event in both the conference and district meets, and finished in second place at the state class A championship. She also played basketball for three years, and helped lead the Panthers to a class A runner up finish at the state championship during her senior year. In 2023, she had her track jersey retired by the Norfolk Panthers.
On April 15, 2015, she signed her national letter of intent to participate in track in field at the University of Nebraska Omaha. She then transferred to Doane University.
Career
Williams made her international debut for the United States at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, and finished in fifth place in the Athletics at the [2016 Summer Paralympics – Women's long jump|long jump T47] event. She then competed at the 2017 [World Para Athletics Championships] in London, and won a gold medal in the 2017 [World Para Athletics Championships – Women's long jump|long jump T47] event.In August 2019, she competed at the 2019 Parapan American Games in Lima, and won a silver medal in the long jump T47 event. In November 2019, she competed at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai, and finished in sixth place in the long jump T47 event.
She represented the United States at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, and finished in fourth place in the Athletics at the [2020 Summer Paralympics – Women's long jump|long jump T47] event with a jump of 5.39 meters.
In July 2023, she competed at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris, and won a bronze medal in the long jump T47 event with a personal best jump of 5.65 meters.
In July 2024, during the U.S. Paralympic team trials, she Athletics at the [2024 Summer Paralympics – Qualification|qualified] to represent the United States at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.