“My coach then, Patrick Johnson, he taught me how to triple jump and I loved it ever since.”
Her talent was spotted by Florida State University after she won multiple junior championships and was awarded most outstanding high schoolgirl athlete at the 2007 Penn Relays.
Williams would go on to become the most successful female track and field athlete in Florida State history.
Under the guidance of her coach Dennis Nobles she won the national championships five times and was a multiple athlete of the year winner.
“I received a scholarship to go to the school and it feels great to go there.
“After the Olympics, I got very confident as I realised some of the ladies that I used to look up to I was just as good as them or even better.”
The current women’s triple jump world record is 15.50 metres and Williams has the record in her sights.
“I’m better than 14.62 which is my current outdoor PB,” she adds.
“To consistently jump 15 metres, that is one of my goals. I don’t know if it’s going to happen now or later, but it’s on the list.”
Williams is part of the most decorated Jamaican track and field team in history and she believes the foundations of that winning mentality start at a young age.
“In high school it is really competitive, if you can win at boys and girls championships, you can win anywhere,” she continues.
“The level of confidence that it builds it just fills through you. You believe that you can do anything. I don’t think there is any secret, we have just been competing since we were really small.”