Danielle Williams to her 100m hurdles rivals: I prefer to save my best for the big occasion

Reigning World 100m hurdles champion, Danielle Williams has told the Jamaican Gleaner she is an athlete that prefers to save her best for the big occasions, indirectly warning her rivals, including defending Olympic champion, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, world record holder and bosom friend, Tobi Amusan and the new kids on the block, as it were, Masai Russell and fellow Jamaican, Ackera Nugent she should not be written off in the race for Paris 2024 Olympics medals.

Williams, who came from literarily nowhere to win the World 100m hurdles in Budapest, Hungary last year despite not counted among the favourites, says her main focus is being ready when it matters most.

‘Coach always said that we are not the winningest persons when we go on the circuit, and we are not necessarily trying to win every race we go out to. Most of the time we are just working out phases of the races. And so that looks different,’ Williams told the Gleaner.

‘But when it comes to the championships, we expect that all those races in preparation were to get the race together and we should get it right when we step on to the track in the championships, and that has always been the difference for me.’

Williams holds a 12.46 personal season’s best this year to rank as the 14th fastest going to the Games. It is her fastest time since she ran 12.43 to win her second world title last year and the fastest, she has run before a major championship since 2022.