Nick Willis
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Ian Willis MNZM
(born 25 April 1983) is a New Zealand middle distance runner. He won the silver medal in the 1500m at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing with a time of 3:34.16 minutes. He was a gold medallist in the 1500 metres at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
in Melbourne
and a bronze medallist at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
. He was the first athlete from New Zealand to win the 1500 metres at the Commonwealth Games (although Peter Snell
and Jack Lovelock
have both won gold in the Mile at the Empire and Commonwealth Games.)
, New Zealand, he grew up with a brother and two sisters and attended Hutt Valley High School
in Lower Hutt, and university in the United States
at the University of Michigan
. His brother, Steve Willis, is also an athlete, and they are the only brothers in the history of New Zealand to have both broken 4:00 minutes for the mile.
For a New Zealand high school student over the mile, Willis became the fastest ever on 20 January 2001, with a time of 4 minutes 1.33 seconds.
In May 2007, Willis became engaged to his girlfriend, Sierra Boucher. They married five months later on 30 September 2007 and currently reside in Ann Arbor, Michigan
.
32 year old record for the 1500 m. Willis then won a Gold Medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
, which he completed in 3:38.49 minutes, and two first placings at the New Zealand Track & Field Championships in 2006, with a time of 3:50.77 minutes, and 2008, which he ran in 3:44.46 minutes. His IAAF world ranking was 16 in May 2007.
In the first 1500m heat of the 2008 Summer Olympics
Willis placed 2nd in a time of 3:36.01. After running at the back of the field for the first few laps he took the lead on the final lap eventually finishing ahead of Mehdi Baala
.
Willis ran in the second 1500m semi-final where the pace was so slow that during the race he unusually told the other competitors to pick up the pace so more of them would have a chance to qualify. With 250m to go Willis was almost boxed in and had to fight his way around Arturo Casado
. Willis finished 5th in the semi-final in a time of 3:37.54, making him the 9th fastest qualifier for the 12 man final.
In the 1500m final Willis stayed at the back of the pack of runners for most of the race. Working his way through the field, he found himself in 6th place with 200m to go. Along the home straight he passed three runners, holding off Baala
on the line claiming the bronze medal in 3:34.16. With the November 18, 2009 disqualification of would-be winner Rashid Ramzi
due to a positive drug test, that medal status was upgraded to a silver medal
.
In conclusion to his 2008 season, Willis won the Fifth Avenue Mile
race in New York City, beating out twice-world champion Bernard Lagat
of the United States by 0.1 seconds. Willis is the only New Zealander to win the race since John Walker won it in 1984.
During 2010, Willis underwent knee surgery. He came fifth in the Fifth Avenue Mile
race and as defending champion in the 1500m
his form leading into the 2010 Commonwealth Games
was not his best. He managed to win the bronze medal in the event and said afterwards he was looking forward to training injury-free.
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
(born 25 April 1983) is a New Zealand middle distance runner. He won the silver medal in the 1500m at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing with a time of 3:34.16 minutes. He was a gold medallist in the 1500 metres at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
2006 Commonwealth Games
The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, athletes competing, and events being held.The site...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
and a bronze medallist at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
2010 Commonwealth Games
The 2010 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XIX Commonwealth Games, were held in Delhi, India, from 3 to 14 October 2010. A total of 6,081 athletes from 71 Commonwealth nations and dependencies competed in 21 sports and 272 events, making it the largest Commonwealth Games till date...
. He was the first athlete from New Zealand to win the 1500 metres at the Commonwealth Games (although Peter Snell
Peter Snell
Sir Peter George Snell, KNZM, MBE is a former New Zealand athlete, now resident in Texas, United States. He had one of the shortest careers of world famous international sportsmen, yet achieved so much that he was voted New Zealand’s "Sports Champion of the Century"...
and Jack Lovelock
Jack Lovelock
John Edward Lovelock was a New Zealand athlete, and the 1936 Olympic champion in the 1500 metres....
have both won gold in the Mile at the Empire and Commonwealth Games.)
Personal life
Willis was born in Lower HuttLower Hutt
Lower Hutt is a city in the Wellington region of New Zealand. Its council has adopted the name Hutt City Council, but neither the New Zealand Geographic Board nor the Local Government Act recognise the name Hutt City. This alternative name can lead to confusion, as there are two cities in the...
, New Zealand, he grew up with a brother and two sisters and attended Hutt Valley High School
Hutt Valley High School
Hutt Valley High School is a state co-educational secondary school located in Lower Hutt, New Zealand. It is a uniformed school, with the uniform coming under review roughly every 5 years by the order of the Board of Trustee’s. The current principal is Ross Sinclair...
in Lower Hutt, and university in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. His brother, Steve Willis, is also an athlete, and they are the only brothers in the history of New Zealand to have both broken 4:00 minutes for the mile.
For a New Zealand high school student over the mile, Willis became the fastest ever on 20 January 2001, with a time of 4 minutes 1.33 seconds.
In May 2007, Willis became engaged to his girlfriend, Sierra Boucher. They married five months later on 30 September 2007 and currently reside in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Career
In 2005, at the Golden League series in Paris, France, Willis broke John Walker'sJohn Walker (runner)
Sir John George Walker, KNZM, CBE, is a former middle distance runner from New Zealand.Walker was the first person to run the mile in under 3:50, and won the Olympic Games 1500m in Montreal in 1976....
32 year old record for the 1500 m. Willis then won a Gold Medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
2006 Commonwealth Games
The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, athletes competing, and events being held.The site...
, which he completed in 3:38.49 minutes, and two first placings at the New Zealand Track & Field Championships in 2006, with a time of 3:50.77 minutes, and 2008, which he ran in 3:44.46 minutes. His IAAF world ranking was 16 in May 2007.
In the first 1500m heat of the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
Willis placed 2nd in a time of 3:36.01. After running at the back of the field for the first few laps he took the lead on the final lap eventually finishing ahead of Mehdi Baala
Mehdi Baala
Mehdi Baala is a French middle-distance athlete competing mainly at 1500 metres. Baala has won numerous major medals, including two European titles. Baala is considered to be the best French middle-distance runner of all time...
.
Willis ran in the second 1500m semi-final where the pace was so slow that during the race he unusually told the other competitors to pick up the pace so more of them would have a chance to qualify. With 250m to go Willis was almost boxed in and had to fight his way around Arturo Casado
Arturo Casado
Arturo Casado Alda is a Spanish middle distance runner.-Achievements:-Personal bests:*800 metres - 1:44.74 - Rieti 29.08.2010*1500 metres - 3:32.70 - Berlin 22.08.2010*Mile - 3:52.38 - Oslo 15.06.2007...
. Willis finished 5th in the semi-final in a time of 3:37.54, making him the 9th fastest qualifier for the 12 man final.
In the 1500m final Willis stayed at the back of the pack of runners for most of the race. Working his way through the field, he found himself in 6th place with 200m to go. Along the home straight he passed three runners, holding off Baala
Mehdi Baala
Mehdi Baala is a French middle-distance athlete competing mainly at 1500 metres. Baala has won numerous major medals, including two European titles. Baala is considered to be the best French middle-distance runner of all time...
on the line claiming the bronze medal in 3:34.16. With the November 18, 2009 disqualification of would-be winner Rashid Ramzi
Rashid Ramzi
Rashid Ramzi is a Moroccan-Bahraini track and field athlete competing internationally for Bahrain in the 800 metres and 1500 metres. Ramzi was investigated by the IAAF after the 2008 Summer Games and was stripped of his gold medal for doping.Ramzi was born in Asfi, Morocco...
due to a positive drug test, that medal status was upgraded to a silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
.
In conclusion to his 2008 season, Willis won the Fifth Avenue Mile
Fifth Avenue Mile
The Fifth Avenue Mile is an annual road race in New York City. The race begins at East 80th Street and heads straight down Fifth Avenue to East 60th Street...
race in New York City, beating out twice-world champion Bernard Lagat
Bernard Lagat
Bernard Kipchirchir Lagat is an American middle and long distance champion athlete.Lagat was born in Kapsabet, Kenya...
of the United States by 0.1 seconds. Willis is the only New Zealander to win the race since John Walker won it in 1984.
During 2010, Willis underwent knee surgery. He came fifth in the Fifth Avenue Mile
Fifth Avenue Mile
The Fifth Avenue Mile is an annual road race in New York City. The race begins at East 80th Street and heads straight down Fifth Avenue to East 60th Street...
race and as defending champion in the 1500m
Athletics at the 2010 Commonwealth Games – Men's 1500 metres
The Men's 1500 metres at the 2010 Commonwealth Games as part of the athletics programme was held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Monday 11 October till Tuesday 12 October 2010....
his form leading into the 2010 Commonwealth Games
2010 Commonwealth Games
The 2010 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XIX Commonwealth Games, were held in Delhi, India, from 3 to 14 October 2010. A total of 6,081 athletes from 71 Commonwealth nations and dependencies competed in 21 sports and 272 events, making it the largest Commonwealth Games till date...
was not his best. He managed to win the bronze medal in the event and said afterwards he was looking forward to training injury-free.
Personal bests
| Distance | Time | Place | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 800 m | 1:45.54 | Heusden-Zolder | 2004 |
| 1000 m | 2:16.93 | Gateshead | 2008 |
| 1500 m | 3:31.79 NR New Zealand records in athletics The following are the national records in athletics in New Zealand maintained by New Zealand's national athletics federation: Athletics New Zealand .... |
Monaco | 2011 |
| Mile | 3:50.66 | Eugene, OR | 2008 |
| 3000 m | 7:45.97 | Lausanne | 2005 |
| 5000 m | 13:27.54 | Sacramento, CA | 2005 |