Born in Edmonton, London,[1] he began competing in throwing events as a teenager as a young member of Enfield and Haringey Athletic Club.

He improved the following year to take the discus throw title at the AAA Outdoor Junior Championships, the shot put at the under-19s English Schools competition.

[9][10][2] In 1990 he was beaten to the AAA shot put title by Paul Edwards, but also made his first discus throw podium there by coming runner-up to Abi Ekoku.

Despite having lost in national competition, he topped the rankings at the games to win the shot put gold medal with a throw of 18.54 m (60 ft 9+3⁄4 in) (Edwards was third).

[11][12][13][14] At the 1991 NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Williams was an unexpected victor in the shot put, taking the title for Louisiana with his throw of 18.69 m (61 ft 3+3⁄4 in) – the shortest winning mark since 1959.

[8] Still, his lifetime best discus throw of 61.14 m (200 ft 7 in) in Baton Rouge that April gained him a place on the British team for the Barcelona Olympics.