It was June 30th, 2012, at the Olympic Trials. Gabby Williams, a mere fifteen-year-old, was the youngest competitor at the meet. Her age was only a number, as she was already a phenom when she stepped onto the field. Expectations were high for her at the Olympic Trials, but what she accomplished exceeded all expectations.

The sophomore from Reed recorded a new personal best of 6 feet and 2¼ inches, tying her for 6th on the All-Time high school list and placing her fifth at the event. “I didn’t expect to get that high…I thought maybe I could get to six feet by my senior year,” said a satisfied Williams. Have you always pictured Williams as a track and field athlete? Here’s how she transitioned from the high jump to basketball.

Track and Field was first her father’s sport

For Williams, both high jump and basketball were in her genes. Her father, Matt Williams, played basketball for the University of Nevada-Reno and was also a 6-10 high jumper for the track team. Just like her father, Williams tested her skills in both track and field and basketball. In fact, she established herself as one of the best two-sport stars across the country.

The way she paved her path to the Olympic Trials was even more impressive. In a span of just eight weeks, she led her team to become Nevada’s state champions while also becoming a state champion herself. She was a 5’11” high jump winner. She even cleared the 100-meter hurdles in 14.11 seconds and stunned everyone in the 300 hurdles, recording a time of 42.85 seconds.

This outstanding performance earned her a spot at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Her 5th place finish might not seem like a big deal until you compare it with her competitors. She stood alongside five-time national champion and world silver medalist Brigetta Barrett, as well as five-time Olympian Amy Acuff. Although she narrowly missed her final attempt at 6’3½”, the sold-out crowd at Hayward Field gave her the standing ovation she deserved.

“I suppose I was surprised at the time, but now when I look back on it, it wasn’t really surprising. I should have gotten a personal record. I knew I’d make a PR with that crowd,” she told Bob Burns. Indeed, the feat was a remarkable success for a 15-year-old, but track and field wasn’t the only sport the young dynamo excelled in.

How Gabby Williams built a basketball career at high school

Strongly influenced by her basketball-centric family, Williams also played basketball. She led her team to a Nevada state title in basketball before making her outstanding high jumps in the spring. High jump came to her after middle school, while basketball was a part of her life for as long as she could remember. The credit for this inborn love of basketball goes to her father. Matt Williams isn’t just a former basketball player but also the owner of some of Nevada’s biggest AAU basketball tournaments.

Gabby is part of her father’s success as well. She played for the Jam On It Club team, which he coached. “That’s been her bread and butter,” said her father. Matt Williams’ athletic genes aren’t limited to Gabby. Even his oldest daughter, Kayla, plays professionally in Australia. “It’s our livelihood. If Gabby’s not playing, she’s working the clock. She’ll take over the business someday,” he added.

Gabby was clear about her choices. While she wanted to play basketball in college, she also hoped to attend an institution that would allow her to continue high jumping as well. “The main thing I want to do in college is play basketball, but my goal is to play basketball somewhere they let me high jump, too,” she said. However, things didn’t turn out that way.

By the time she reached collegiate basketball, she decided to focus solely on the sport at the University of Connecticut. At UConn, she honed her skills to achieve historic feats. She became one of only five Huskies to record a triple-double in school history and one of only eight to achieve at least 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.

Her success wasn’t just limited to improving her stats—she also helped her team reach a 148-3 record over four years. Despite all these achievements, one thing was certainly lost: her passion for track and field. Will she ever try high jump again?

Stay tuned for more such updates. And join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show”. Our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.