BIOGRAPHY

In athletic circles, the name Veronica Campbell Brown (VCB) is synonymous with history. To be clear, not being a part of history but creating it! Born and raised in rural Jamaica in the parish of Trelawny, there was no family genes (but for a brief foray by her father Cecil Campbell who inherited the nickname “Honda” for his exploits), no cutting-edge equipment and or facilities serving as portent of the success to follow.  By sheer determination, natural talent and hard work, VCB parlayed her primary school promise into a scholarship to one of Jamaica’s venerable high school track programs, Vere Technical. Incidentally, Vere Technical is the only high school in the world to boast four alumni to run under 11.00 in the 100 meters. The four piloting Vere Technical to that position are Merlene Ottey (VCB’s self-proclaimed role model), Beverley McDonald, Simone Facey and of course VCB herself.

Whilst in high school, Veronica Campbell Brown in 1999 became the first female to win the World Youth Games 100 meter title; that win marked the first time a Jamaican was winning a global 100m title. In the very next year she won her first of seven Olympic Games medals courtesy of a relay silver medal at the Sydney Games. Interestingly, VCB became the youngest ever Jamaican female to win an Olympic medal!  More history was created that same year when in Santiago, Chile, VCB became the first female to win the 100m and 200m at the same World Junior Championships!

At the 2004 Athens Olympic Games Veronica Campbell Brown kept the history buffs busy as her medal haul of 100 meter (bronze), 200 meter (gold) and relay (gold) propelled her to the title of most successful Caribbean athlete ever at a single Olympic Games! Additionally, by virtue of winning the 200 meter, VCB became the first female from the Caribbean to win an Olympic sprint title!

Want more firsts? At the 2007 World Championships, Veronica Campbell Brown captured the 100m title and in the process became the first athlete (male or female) to win the full offering of International Association of Athlete Federation (IAAF) sprint titles available. She had won World Youth 100m (1999), IAAF World Junior (2000).

Want more history? That 2007 World Championship 100m gold medal made her the first Jamaican to win a senior global 100m title!

Want more history? At the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Veronica Campbell Brown became only the second woman in Olympic Games history to successfully defend her 200m title. Barbel Wockel of Germany in 1976 and 1980 had previously turned the trick.  In 2009 more history was created by this athletic giant when she became the first female track athlete to be named UNESCO Champion for Sport.

2010 evidenced her first foray at the global indoor level and she duly obliged climbing to the top of the podium at the Doha staging of the World Indoor Championships. Her (7.00) triumph signaled a personal best at 60m. Outdoors she was unblemished at 200m and finished the season with world leading times in both the 100m and 200m.

With 2011 came the World Outdoor Championship and another first for Veronica Campbell Brown.  The bemedaled Jamaican finally secured the 200m crown the only individual sprint gold outside of her possession at the World Championship prior to her (22.22) performance. Additionally, she pocketed silver medals in the 100m and 4x100m relays. Earlier in the season a 100m personal best of (10.76) added to the radiance of her outstanding season.

Displaying the ability to juggle academics and athletics with equal ease, VCB secured her Bachelor of Science degree in 2006 from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. An avid bowler, the daughter of Cecil Campbell and Pamella Bailey  and now wife of 2006 Commonwealth Games 200 meter Champion Omar Brown, VCB has come a long way from Trelawny and intends to continue creating history!

After more than 15 years of creating history in Track and Field, VCB retired in the years 2021.  On June 23rd, 2021, she released the following statement via social media:

Retirement statement release June 23, 2021.

What a journey it has been!
Through the grace of God, I have climbed from a small town in Trelawny, Jamaica up the ladder of success to become one of the most decorated women in the Olympic Games and World Championships history.
All glory to the Lord for my successes, He blessed me with the talent, the will to stay focused and the requisite work ethics. Additionally, He placed authentic and supportive people in my life who served as pillars of strength as I maneuvered the highs and lows which littered my athletic career.
As I climbed, I passed the rung of hurt, that of injuries and rejection not to mention tears, however, they never quenched my aspiration to grasp the fruits of success and satisfaction. For that I must venture to say that I am proud and grateful.
I want to thank the persons and companies who contributed to my successes: my family, especially my husband @omarobrown who in the latter years served as my coach, I must mention friends, fans, supporters, sponsors, coaches and my agent On Track Management, I could not have done it without your help and support. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
As I take off my spikes never to put them on again, this girl from Clarks Town walks away happy and contented with a race well run.
The journey of parenting, entrepreneurship: VCB FIT, @vcbfit, philanthropist: The Veronica Campbell Brown Foundation, @vcb_foundation and motivational speaker continues.
I look forward to what God have for me in this new chapter.
Love and light. – VCB