All Jamaican eyes on Cal gymnast Toni-Ann Williams
UC Berkeley gymnast Toni-Ann Williams was Pac-12 Freshman of the Year for the University of California last season, and now she's about to compete in the world gymnastics championships in Scotland. If she succeeds there, not only will Berkeley be celebrating but the island nation of Jamaica, where Williams family comes from, will be too. Doing well could mean a trip to next summer's Olympic Games.
October 23, 2015
UC Berkeley gymnast Toni-Ann Williams was Pac-12 Freshman of the Year for the University of California last season. Now, she’s about to compete in the world gymnastics championships, which started today in Glasgow, Scotland.
If she succeeds there, not only will Berkeley be celebrating but the island nation of Jamaica, where Williams family comes from, will be too. Doing well could even mean a trip to the Summer Olympic Games in Rio next summer.
“When I first started, everyone had told me, ‘You’re the first gymnast to compete for Jamaica,’ and I never realized — you’re the first gymnast for an entire country,” Williams told Associated Press writer Janie McCauley for a story published in the San Francisco Chronicle and elsewhere today. “I never realized how big that was. I never allowed myself to think that highly of myself before, but I do recognize it now. It helps me stay humble and keeps me going through this crazy journey.”
Read McCauley’s story about Williams and see a slideshow AP photographer Ben Margot’s photos of her in action on sfgate.com.
Read about Williams’ Pac-12 title on the Cal Athletics website.