Veronica Campbell Brown: An athlete to know
Veronica Campbell Brown is a Jamaican sprinter, Olympic and world champion.
Veronica Campbell Brown (b. 1982) is a Jamaican sprinter, Olympic and world champion.
She is the first Jamaican woman to win gold in a sprint race.
VCB won eight Olympic medals: three gold, three silver, and two bronze.
Growing up in Trelawny, Jamaica, Campbell Brown used to race boys on the street. Her mom would send her to buy groceries, and she’d run to the store. Eventually, she attended Vere Technical High School, where she started to take athletics seriously.
Growing up, she looked up to Florence Griffith Joyner, she liked her technique and tried to emulate her. She also looked up to legendary Jamaican competitor Merlene Ottey.
She wanted to get better because she wanted to earn a college scholarship. She attended Barton County Community College in Kansas before competing at the University of Arkansas.
She went on to have a decorated career for the Razorbacks and her country. During the stressful moments while competing, she liked to read, sightsee, and do visualizations for self-care in addition to playing mini golf and tennis and watching movies.
Campbell Brown retired in 2021. She’s now a fitness coach, public speaker, and hosts an AirBnB Experience.
Currently, Jamaican women dominate the sprints. Campbell says it’s due to the opportunities in track and field, the competitive environment in Jamaica, and the desire to maintain history and carry the flag.
Learn more about Veronica Campbell Brown:
2001 interview with VCB as a teenager
World Sport TV interview with VCB
More on VCB’s time in Kansas and Arkansas
Connect with VCB:
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