This UVA Alumna Is One of Three US Olympic Pole Vaulters Looking To Medal

The 28-year-old was grateful to receive the welcome after the pressure of the Trials the previous week.

“In the final, looking back, I went in really rigid. I was focused and I was excited, but I felt like I had a job to do, which I did,” she said. “But it sucked out the joy, I think, that I have for the sport and the gratitude for all the work that I put in. I mean, this dream has been basically 10 years in the making.” 

The approach, she said, “Did not serve me well.” 

Williams celebrates after completing a vault at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June. (Photo by Christian Peterson, Getty Images)

A mental reset was needed, and she pushed that button for Sunday’s final competition. “As soon as Sunday came around for the final, it was a new day and everybody was even at the start of the meet until the competition started,” she said.

Her second readjustment was to stop trying to control everything and just go out there and “do what I knew I can do,” she said.

“I promised myself and promised my coach and my family that I would not forfeit or waste any attempts I had in the final, and I didn’t,” she said with determination. “I jumped clean every jump until I was on that team.” Williams finally cleared 15 feet, 6 1/4 inches to finish first.

The Mental and the Physical

Williams said 80% of pole vaulting is mental, and that it is perhaps the only event in track and field with fear involved. It’s not fear of heights, however.

“I think for me personally, if I were to answer, it’s leaving the ground,” she said. “Getting yourself to leave the ground can be the most frightening part or the hardest part to get yourself to do.”

Pole vaulters have 60 seconds to complete their jumps, but Williams said the run-up and the jump itself takes about 10 seconds, so there’s time to work with.

“Sometimes that is crucial because if the winds are not good, you know, you can kind of pick your moment,” she said.

Williams, who earned a UVA degree in French literature and culture in 2018 and masters’ in education in 2019, married her husband, James Williams, in 2020. The pair met competing for UVA’s track and field team as undergraduates; James was a thrower, competing in discus, shot put and hammer events.

The pair moved to Blacksburg and Williams began training at Virginia Tech, where she also became a volunteer assistant coach. There is a bit of irony here, she admits. 

“We always joke. My husband grew up here in the area. His family all went to Virginia Tech. His parents worked at Virginia Tech. His dad played basketball at Virginia Tech. His grandparents went to Tech,” she detailed. “And neither of us were recruited to Virginia Tech. And so, we both ended up at UVA, which is pretty funny.”

Her Littlest Fan

When she’s not training and competing, Williams works part-time at her church as an administrator. She produces the church newsletter and acts as a connector in many other ways, like organizing meals for sick church members.

Beatrix “Bea” McCarthy, who attends Williams’ church, is a big fan. (Contributed photo)

“She coordinates a lot of those things, and she goes beyond the call of duty,” the Rev. Wade Miller said. “She loves the church.”

And she’s made an impression on one particular member of St. Philip’s. After that celebratory coffee hour, 10-year-old Beatrix “Bea” McCarthy took home the day’s church bulletin, which included a photo of Williams with a congratulatory note. McCarthy put it on her bedroom wall.

“It just seemed right. If someone was cheering for somebody, they would have a picture,” she said. McCarthy also likes knowing an Olympic athlete for a very simple reason. “Then I have someone to cheer for and I don’t have to pick somebody,” she said.

Williams will compete Monday in the preliminary round. The top 12 female pole vaulters will advance to the final competition on Wednesday.