Chris Brown's aggressive style highly respected
By FRED STURRUP
The Freeport News, Bahamas
14th December 2010
The heroic run at American Michael Johnson on the anchor leg of the 2000 Sydney Olympics 1,600 metres relay final, and a handful of near-medal misses in other major international events will always be remembered when the name Chris Brown comes up.
His aggressive, fearless style of running however has endeared him to his peers and a legion of track and field followers, who have enjoyed the excitement he brings to his races.
He is the national record holder for the 400m at 44.40 seconds and clearly the strongest 1,600m relay runner The Bahamas has ever produced.
This year, he accomplished a goal that had been missing.
Despite his thrilling efforts, indoors and outdoors on relay legs and in open quarters, he had never crossed the finish line first in a major international event.
Brown captured the Pan American Games gold medal in 2007 but missed out at the World Championships and the Olympics.
This year though, after having won two bronze medals previously in the International Association of Athletic Federations' Indoor Champ-ionships (2006 and 2008), he finally struck gold.
He was not to be denied and captured the long-awaited piece of golden hardware comfortably.
He proved that he could win the big one. Ever the patriot, with the world watching him, after he crossed the finish line in first, he made it a point to indicate the word 'Bahamas' across the top of his jersey.
He knew hundreds of cameras were on him and he told the world that, "I did it for my country."
Because of his infectious style and his devotion to the land of his birth, Bahamians will always appreciate the Eleuthera native.
At 32, they can expect to have many more proud moments because of Brown's performances.
It's as if he took the rest of 2010 off after accomplishing the gold at the IAAF Indoor Championships. What's to be expected for 2011? Will it be a medal at the IAAF Outdoor World Championships?
He is capable.
He has placed fourth and fifth at the Outdoor World finals, in 2005 and 2009 respectively.
Brown has already had a Hall of Fame career. His résumé includes a silver medal at the 2009 IAAF World Athletics Final, a bronze medal at the 2005 IAAF World Athletics Final, a bronze medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, as well as Olympic and World Championships relay medals.
He is approaching his final competitive years. Individual medals at the IAAF Outdoor Worlds and the Olympics would top off a truly fine career. Could 2011 be the year for Brown's individual world outdoor medal? The following year, the London 2012 Olympics will be staged.
Best wishes Chris!
Whatever happens though he has already established himself as one of the nation's greatest athletes.
By FRED STURRUP
The Freeport News, Bahamas
14th December 2010
The heroic run at American Michael Johnson on the anchor leg of the 2000 Sydney Olympics 1,600 metres relay final, and a handful of near-medal misses in other major international events will always be remembered when the name Chris Brown comes up.
His aggressive, fearless style of running however has endeared him to his peers and a legion of track and field followers, who have enjoyed the excitement he brings to his races.
He is the national record holder for the 400m at 44.40 seconds and clearly the strongest 1,600m relay runner The Bahamas has ever produced.
This year, he accomplished a goal that had been missing.
Despite his thrilling efforts, indoors and outdoors on relay legs and in open quarters, he had never crossed the finish line first in a major international event.
Brown captured the Pan American Games gold medal in 2007 but missed out at the World Championships and the Olympics.
This year though, after having won two bronze medals previously in the International Association of Athletic Federations' Indoor Champ-ionships (2006 and 2008), he finally struck gold.
He was not to be denied and captured the long-awaited piece of golden hardware comfortably.
He proved that he could win the big one. Ever the patriot, with the world watching him, after he crossed the finish line in first, he made it a point to indicate the word 'Bahamas' across the top of his jersey.
He knew hundreds of cameras were on him and he told the world that, "I did it for my country."
Because of his infectious style and his devotion to the land of his birth, Bahamians will always appreciate the Eleuthera native.
At 32, they can expect to have many more proud moments because of Brown's performances.
It's as if he took the rest of 2010 off after accomplishing the gold at the IAAF Indoor Championships. What's to be expected for 2011? Will it be a medal at the IAAF Outdoor World Championships?
He is capable.
He has placed fourth and fifth at the Outdoor World finals, in 2005 and 2009 respectively.
Brown has already had a Hall of Fame career. His résumé includes a silver medal at the 2009 IAAF World Athletics Final, a bronze medal at the 2005 IAAF World Athletics Final, a bronze medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, as well as Olympic and World Championships relay medals.
He is approaching his final competitive years. Individual medals at the IAAF Outdoor Worlds and the Olympics would top off a truly fine career. Could 2011 be the year for Brown's individual world outdoor medal? The following year, the London 2012 Olympics will be staged.
Best wishes Chris!
Whatever happens though he has already established himself as one of the nation's greatest athletes.