Editing Willie Davenport

{{Short description|American athlete and bobsledder (1943–2002)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Willie Davenport
| image = Willie Davenport 1968.jpg
| caption = Davenport at the 1968 Olympics
| full_name = William D. Davenport
| birth_date = {{Birth date text|June 8, 1943}}
| birth_place = [[Troy, Alabama]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death-date and age|June 17, 2002|June 8, 1943}}
| death_place = [[Chicago]], Illinois, U.S.
| height = 6 ft 1 in
| weight = 185 lb
| sport = Sprint running
| club = Baton Rouge Track Club
| pb = 100 yd – 9.5 (1968)<br/> 100 m – 10.3 (1969)<br/> 110 mh – 13.33 (1968)<ref name=sr>{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/da/willie-davenport-1.html |title=Willie Davenport |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417172616/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/da/willie-davenport-1.html |archive-date=2020-04-17}}</ref>
| alma_mater = [[Southern University]]
| show-medals = yes
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1968 Summer Olympics|1968 Mexico City]]|[[Athletics at the 1968 Summer Olympics|110 m hurdles]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[1976 Summer Olympics|1976 Montréal]]|[[Athletics at the 1976 Summer Olympics|110 m hurdles]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Pan American Games]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[1967 Pan American Games|1967 Winnipeg]] | [[Athletics at the 1967 Pan American Games|110 m hurdles]]}}
}}

'''William "Willie" D. Davenport''' (June 8, 1943 – June 17, 2002) was an American sprint runner.

== Biography ==
He attended [[Howland High School]] and college at [[Southern University|Southern University and A&M College]] in [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana]].

Davenport took part in his first Olympics in 1964, but injured his thigh and was eliminated in the semifinals. He competed in the 110 m hurdles at the 1964, 1968, 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics, winning a gold medal in 1968 and a bronze in 1976, and finishing fourth in 1972. In 1980 he took part in the Winter Olympics as a runner for the American [[bobsleigh]] team.  Because of the [[1980 Summer Olympics boycott|boycott]], and the quirk of participating in the Winter Olympics, he was the only U.S. track and field athlete to participate in the 1980 Olympics.<ref name="sr" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usatf.org/statistics/champions/OlympicTrials/HistoryOfTheOlympicTrials.pdf |title=The History of the United States Olympic Trials – Track & Field |author=Hymans, Richard |publisher=[[USA Track & Field]]}}</ref> In [[Mexico City]] in 1968, he reached the final and won, later saying, "From the first step, the gun, I knew I had won the race." In 1972 he finished fourth, and in his third consecutive Olympic 110 m hurdles final, in 1976, he won a bronze medal.

Davenport was a member of the [[Southern Jaguars football]] team in college, and immediately departed the 1968 Olympics after winning the gold to join the team for the final games.<ref>{{cite news |last=Garner |first=Jim |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81873283/ |title=A Matter of Finance |newspaper=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |date=February 13, 1969 |access-date=July 25, 2021}}</ref> He was drafted by the [[New Orleans Saints]] as a [[wide receiver]] in the sixth round (138th overall) of the [[1969 NFL/AFL draft]], but a misunderstanding about his college eligibility prompted the Saints to withdraw the selection.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81871691/ |title=Saints Draft Track Star Davenport |agency=[[United Press|UP]] |newspaper=[[Times-News (Idaho)|Times-News]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |date=January 29, 1969 |access-date=July 25, 2021}}</ref> When it turned out he was allowed to play, the [[San Diego Chargers]] picked him in the 16th round (408th overall) but he and the team could not agree to a contract.<ref>{{cite news |last=Florence |first=Mal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81873434/ |title='Got to Try 18 Feet to Make It,' Seagren Explains |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |date=February 9, 1969 |access-date=July 25, 2021}}</ref> The Saints drafted him again in [[1970 NFL Draft|1970]] in the 12th round (296th overall) as a [[defensive back]], though he did not join them either.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hand |first=Jack |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81873847/ |title=Pittsburgh, Green Bay, Browns, 49ers Get Help |newspaper=[[Springfield News-Leader]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |date=February 1, 1970 |access-date=July 25, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81874046/ |title=Willie Davenport Has Olympic 'Gold Fever' |newspaper=[[The Times (Shreveport)|The Times]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |date=August 2, 1970 |access-date=July 25, 2021}}</ref>

At his last Olympics in 1980, Davenport was a bobsleigh runner, ending up 12th in the four-man competition. Davenport's other achievements include five national championships in the 60 yard hurdles indoor event.<ref name="sr" /> By participating in the [[Bobsleigh at the 1980 Winter Olympics|1980 bobsleigh competition]], he became one of the first two African Americans to compete in the bobsled in the Winter Olympics. Jeff Gadley, a decathlete from State University of New York at Plattsburgh, competed internationally in the four-man bobsled for the US the year before the Lake Placid Olympics, then Davenport joined Gadley's team right before the 1980 Olympics. Davenport drew much media attention, but was not the first.

In 1985, Davenport competed at the Masters Outdoor World Championship in Rome.<ref>National Masters News, August 1985 PDF page 25 of 44. [http://www.mastershistory.org/NMN/NMN-August-1985s.pdf]  Retrieved January 6, 2021</ref>

Davenport died of a [[myocardial infarction|heart attack]] at age 59 at [[Chicago]]'s [[O'Hare International Airport]] on June 17, 2002.<ref>Haskell, Bob (June 20, 2002) [https://web.archive.org/web/20060327041820/http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jun2002/n06202002_200206202.html Five-Time Olympian Col. Willie Davenport Remembered]. DefenseLink News Article.</ref> He was a U.S. Army private at the time of his first Olympic participation and a colonel in the [[United States Army National Guard]] at the time of his death.

==Legacy==

In 1977 he was inducted into the [[Mt. SAC Relays]] Hall of Fame,<ref>[http://www.mtsacrelays.com/archives/HallFame/Davenpor.htm Willie Davenport]. Mtsacrelays.com. Retrieved on 2015-06-14.</ref> and in 1982 into the [[National Track and Field Hall of Fame]].<ref>[http://www.usatf.org/HallOfFame/TF/showBio.asp?HOFIDs=39 Hall of Fame]. USATF. Retrieved on 2015-06-14.</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Wallechinsky, David (1984). ''The Complete Book of the Olympics: 1896 – 1980''. New York: Penguin Books. pp.&nbsp;54–55, 562.

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Team USA Hall of Fame|new_id=willie-davenport|old_id=Willie-Davenport|archive=20230720074710}}
* {{Olympics.com profile|willie-davenport|org_archive=20160920150417}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{Find a Grave|6550505}}

{{S-start}}
{{s-ach|rec}}
{{s-bef|before={{flagicon|USA}} [[Earl McCullouch]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[110 metre hurdles#History of world records|Men's 110m Hurdles World Record Holder]]|years=July 4, 1969 – September 2, 1972}}
{{s-aft|after={{flagicon|USA}} [[Rodney Milburn]]}}
{{s-sports}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-vac|unknown}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[110 metre hurdles#Men.27s Seasons Best|Men's 110m Hurdles Best Year Performance]]|years=1966}}
{{s-aft|after={{flagicon|USA}} [[Earl McCullouch]]}}
{{s-bef|before={{flagicon|USA}} [[Earl McCullouch]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[110 metre hurdles#Men.27s Seasons Best|Men's 110m Hurdles Best Year Performance]]|years=1968–1969}}
{{s-aft|after={{flagicon|USA}} [[Thomas Hill (athlete)|Thomas Hill]]}}
{{S-end}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions 110 m hurdles Men}}
{{Footer US NC 110m Hurdles Men}}
{{USA Indoor Track and Field Championships winners in men's 60 m hurdles}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1964 Summer Olympics}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1968 Summer Olympics}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1972 Summer Olympics}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1976 Summer Olympics}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Davenport, Willie}}
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:2002 deaths]]
[[Category:American male hurdlers]]
[[Category:Olympic bobsledders for the United States]]
[[Category:American male bobsledders]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1964 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1968 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1972 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1976 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Bobsledders at the 1980 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:People from Troy, Alabama]]
[[Category:United States Army officers]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in track and field]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in track and field]]
[[Category:Southern University alumni]]
[[Category:Track and field athletes from Alabama]]
[[Category:World record setters in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1976 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1968 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Universiade medalists in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1965 Summer Universiade]]
[[Category:FISU World University Games bronze medalists for the United States]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1967 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1967 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Pan American Games silver medalists for the United States in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:American masters athletes]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]