William (Bill) Green (born April 28, 1960) is an American former track and field athlete. He is a former United States record holder and finished fifth in the hammer throw in the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California.

Early life Green is the son an attorney who also acted in community theater Green's mother was a former mayor, city councilwoman and County Supervisor in Truckee, California

Athletic career Green became discus thrower in high school and failed to qualify for the California state meet. He was recruited by throwing coach Art Venegas near the beginning of his career and encouraged to try the hammer throw as a college freshman. As a hammer thrower, Green was an NCAA All American and an AAU National Junior Champion title holder in 1979, just five months with the event. He ranked third in the United States at the senior level three years later in 1982.

He placed tenth at the 1980 United States Olympic Trials. In 1983 and 1984 he set three American Collegiate Records, three United States National Records, and, after winning the American Olympic trials, he placed fifth at the 1984 Olympic Games. He is one of only three Americans since 1952 to place in the top five in Olympic competition.

Green was inducted into the Long Beach State Athletic Hall of Fame in October 2001.

International competitions

|1983 |Universiade |Edmonton, Canada |4th |Hammer throw |- |1984 |Olympic Games |Los Angeles, United States |5th |Hammer throw |- |1987 |Pan American Games |Indianapolis, United States |2nd |Hammer throw

National titles USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Hammer throw: 1986 United States Olympic Trials Hammer throw: 1984 USA Outdoor Junior Track and Field Championships Hammer throw: 1979

See also List of Olympic medalists in athletics (men)

References

Further reading "Restoration of Respect for American Hammer Throwing in the Olympics" https://hammerthrow.org/training-resources/articles/bill-green/ Biographical information https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78476 Bill Green at World Athletics https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/bill-green-14344662

External links Olympic Games telecast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uucpO_3f2k&t=225s Montage of Olympic Games hammer throwers Soviet Union documentary on the Hammer Throw-footage from the 1986 Goodwill Games Care Free Gum commercial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njiSz4qJJhw