The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

EVERY time he turns around, veteran quarter-miler Chris “The Fireman” Brown said God continues to bless him with something new revolving around his illustrious track and field career.

Now in his third year as the head coach at Clayton State University in Morrow, Georgia, Brown was just appointed as Ambassador-at-Large for Sports, along with former basketball player turned actor Rick Fox, a three-time National Basketball Association champion with the Los Angles Lakers.

The honour was bestowed upon the men during the commissioning ceremony for five other ambassadors on Wednesday, August 3 in the presence of Deputy Governor General Cynthia “Mother” Pratt, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell.

In his new role, both Brown and Fox will represent the Bahamas locally and internationally at major sporting events and assist in the development of sports as well as represent the country in a diplomatic manner. For Brown, in an interview with The Tribune over the weekend, he thanks God for writing each and every chapter in his life and allowing him to be an obedient messenger each step of the way.

“I’m really honoured and really humbled that the Bahamas Government recognised me and that they see something in me that I can represent the Bahamas at this level,” he said. “So I am really humbled and honoured to receive such a prestigious recognition.”

Not only in track and field, but sports in general, Brown will have the distinct pleasure of representing the Bahamas. He will also be providing his expertise for the development of sports and assisting in bringing some other sporting events to the country.

With Sports in Paradise as the new brand for the Bahamas Government, Brown said although he is still obligated to his role as the head coach of the Laker track and field team at Clayton State University, it won’t hinder his job because most of his obligation to the country will be during the off-season.

“I will be able to balance both worlds just like I’ve always been doing because I’ve put on track meets during the season,” he said. “The good thing is the track season will be closed when I’m doing what I have to do.

“There’s a difference if there is an indoor event and I don’t have anything to do and I would like to show up and represent the country. I can do that. But most of the stuff that I will be doing will be done when my track season is closed. So it won’t have an impact at all.”

Although he’s not yet officially retired from competing, Brown said he’s eager to see how his life is revolving.

“I have planted so many different seeds and I have so many chapters in my life that I can’t wait to see what the new chapter ahead of me entails,” he said.

Before he calls it quits as a competitive athlete, Brown said he’s leaning on returning home in June, 2023 for the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ National Championships as his swan song.

“I want to give it one more shot, but I won’t want to drag it out for five or six years,” he said. “I want to be able to come home for the trials and run my last race. So I am looking forward to that. I just want to run my last race at home.

“I want to put my spikes on the last time and I don’t want to be too concerned about going out there and winning it or being in the top three, but to just put on my spikes and closing out that chapter in my life for the Bahamian people.”

But as a competitor who brings the heat every time he steps out on the track, Brown said he’s not looking to finish last, so if there are any thoughts of the younger guys trying to beat the Eleuthera native, who turns 44 on October 15, they better come with their A-game.

“I just want to show them that I still have some gas left in the tank,” said Brown, who last competed before the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020.

“I’m still the Fireman. Nothing has changed. It’s just that they added the ‘Ambassador’ title to my name. But come next June, I want to step on the track and call it a done deal.”

Brown, who migrated to New Providence to attend RM Bailey as an 800m specialist after he established the national record of one minute and 49.54 seconds, was converted to the 400m where he went on to excel as the former Bahamian national record holder with a personal best time of 44.40 seconds.

Brown is listed as one of the greatest competitors, having won five individual medals, including a gold, a silver and three bronze in the World Indoor Championships and another silver as a member of the men’s 4 x 100m relay team.

Brown has made a number of finals at the other global meets, but fell short of the podium.

While he didn’t get to ascend the dais as a medallist in the 400m, Brown joined his relay team-mates with a gold, a silver and two bronze at the Olympic Games, a gold, two silver and a bronze at the World Championships and a silver and bronze at the Commonwealth Games.

Add a gold in the 400 and another in the 4 x 400m relay at the Pan American Games and a silver and bronze in the 400m and a pair of gold in the relay at the Central American and Caribbean Championships in a career that spans more than three decades.

“If someone had told me this was the way it would be or this is how it would turn out, I would probably laugh at them,” Brown said.

“But to be alive to witness the change, it’s truly a blessing and I thank God for it every day because he’s the one who brought me to this point this far.

“Coming from Wemyss Bight in Eleuthera, this island boy running bare feet to navigating myself to the big leagues to see the world and what the world has to offer, I’m truly blessed. Words can’t describe where I’m at and where I am going tomorrow. I can’t sum it up in words. It’s just a true blessing.”

On August 22, 2012, Brown got another major distinction when the Bahamas government named a street and a park in Wemyss Bight in his honour, a recognition he will cherish just as he does everything else that has transpired in his life.

Married to Faith, Brown is the proud father of three children, a son Shiloh and two daughters, Emerald and Zorah, where they reside in Gwinnett County, Georgia.

Brown is expected to travel to Grand Bahama this weekend to make his first appearance in his new role as an ambassador at the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Championships that will take place from Thursday to Saturday at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex.

“I just want the Bahamian people to be patient with me. I intend to deliver a standard to their liking. First class or nothing.” He said.

“I’m looking forward to being in Grand Bahama. I’m looking forward to it because I’ve never been in this position.

“I’ve always been the competitor who just wants to go out there and compete. So being in this position, I’m looking forward to it. I just want to see how well they can put on the meet and if there’s anything I can do to help them make it a success, I’m all for it.”

At the same time, as he watches the Bahamian athletes compete against the host of international stars coming in, Brown said he will also have on his recruiting hat as he continues to seek the next Bahamian to join 800m specialist Sasha Knowles on his Laker roster.

“The objective is always to provide the next outlet for the future generation of Bahamian athletes,” he said. “So if I’m not recruiting for my school, I will be assisting in trying to get them elsewhere where they can fit in.

“But I will definitely be looking at taking care of me first and then I will look at everybody else for second and third place.”

With more funding in place for his Division II school, Brown said he could assist more Bahamian athletes to join his programme in Atlanta.

But, on the whole, Brown said he couldn’t ask for anything more than life has given him.

“I’m just here doing what I love doing,” he summed up. “I just want to continue pressing forward and looking up to the future, I just want to encourage everybody to keep their head up, regardless of what they are going through in life.

“It don’t have to be track and field in particular or sports in general. Regardless of what you’re going through, just keep the faith and always be willing to elevate yourself to the next level and find avenues to step up and be the leader and always be fighting for what you want.”

With God in control, he said “success will come,” so he encouraged the public to just be patient.