The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

LONDON, England — The only thing missing from quarter-miler Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown’s list of achievements is an individual Olympic medal.

While he waits to see whether or not he will achieve that goal, Brown got another feather in his cap when it was decided by the team officials that the Eleuthera native would carry the flag for the Bahamas during the official opening ceremonies tonight at the Olympic Stadium, rather than IAAF World and Olympic back-to-back gold medallist Tonique Williams-Darling, who is assisting the team at the games and whom it was rumoured would be the flag bearer.

“I feel pretty good. God is good. To carry the flag is an honour and a privilege,” said Brown about the announcement. “You are not only leading your team, but you’re leading your team into battle and for those who are not here, we appreciate their support because we’re doing it for them. So it’s a honour to be the one selected to carry the flag.”

Brown, participating in his fourth Olympic Games, said this solidified his role as a team captain and leader that all of the athletes, especially the younger ones coming up, look up too.

“I lead by example and I continue to lead by example,” he said. “So you go out there and you do your best and good things will follow you. So I appreciate the BOC (Bahamas Olympic Committee) selecting me and giving me the privilege to walk ahead of the team carrying the flag during the opening ceremonies.”

And hopefully as a result of that decision, Brown said he would like nothing better than to take another walk out of the tunnel and into the Olympic Stadium to stand on the dais and collect one of the medals for the men’s 400 metres.

The first round is set for Saturday, August 4, the semifinal on Sunday, August 5 and the final on Monday, August 6. But in the meantime, Brown said he’s just been taking in the sights and sounds with the Bahamian team at the Games village.

“So far everything has been going good,” he said. “The village has been great and the food is nice. Everything and everybody is gearing up towards the Olympic Games. I just give the Lord all praise and thanks.”

Thinking about the previous three games, Brown said he have to admit that Beijing, China in 2008 still stands outs in his mind, but London isn’t too far behind in making him a believer.

“It’s getting there. It ain’t reached the point where I want it to be, but it’s getting there. It’s still climbing,” he said. “Beijing had a lot of different things. The game room was bigger and they had a lot of computers. It’s just a different environment.”

Brown, the Bahamian national record holder at 44.40 seconds, said when he starts competing in the men’s 400m in the preliminary rounds on Saturday, he intends to be a contender in Sunday’s semifinal.

That will set him up for a chance to get into the final to chase after the individual Olympic medal that has eluded him so far.

“I am always proud representing the Bahamas and I will continue doing so,” he said.

The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ ScotiaBank National Championships’ third place finisher will be competing in the 400m with three-time national champion Demetrius Pinder from Grand Bahama and Ramon Miller, the nationals runner-up.

The trio, all of whom have run under 45 seconds all have their eyes set on the final, which will be an historic one if either two or all three competitors secure a lane. But Brown said it will be extra special if he can personally get one.