Willi Maier (born December 13, 1948) is a former West German track and field athlete who specialized in the 3000-meter steeplechase. He is primarily recognized for his participation in international athletics during the early 1970s, most notably representing West Germany at the 1972 Summer Olympics.
Born in Steinhofen, Maier rose to prominence in West German athletics as a middle-distance and steeplechase runner. He was a member of the sports club SV Hechingen. His competitive peak coincided with the 1972 Summer Olympics held in Munich, where he was selected to compete in the men's 3000-meter steeplechase. During the event's opening round on September 1, 1972, Maier was placed in the fourth qualifying heat. He completed the race in 8:37.6, finishing in sixth place. This result was not sufficient to advance him to the final round of the competition.
Maier achieved his career personal best in the 3000-meter steeplechase earlier in 1972, recording a time of 8:30.2. This mark placed him among the top West German runners in the event during that season.
The name Willi Maier is a common German anthroponym, appearing frequently in German-speaking regions. In an encyclopedic context, the name most frequently refers to the Olympic athlete, as few other individuals with this specific name have achieved a similar level of documented international historical record. No other widely recognized academic, scientific, or political concepts are associated with this specific term in general encyclopedic literature.