He is a tremendous inspiration for Eleutherans, young and old and on Thursday April 10th, 2014, the hometown hero, Chris “Fireman” Brown (Chris “Bay” Brown at home) started his tour of schools on the island which will continue into Friday. Accompanied by an entourage of officials and media, Brown started his day at his primary school alma mater Wemyss Bight Primary in South Eleuthera. 

He then made his way northward to the track of his early years, at Rock Sound’s Preston H. Albury High School (PHAHS) to officially open the 2014 Chris Brown Eleuthera Primary School Track and Field annual meet.  The meet, he informed the youngsters, was taking place on a track that had not changed since he first ran on it 19 or more years ago. Speaking to anyone listening, he urged that it was time for the people in-charge, to lay a proper track on the island for the youngsters.

“Sand on Grass” was his description of the track that he joked he can still find blisters on his feet from.

The young kids were visibly thrilled to have the local Olympian amongst them and reached out eagerly to touch his hand as he made his way around to them.

From there, Chris enamoured the older students at his High School, just a short walk from the track at his secondary alma mater (PHAHS). Here he was greeted with the sounds of Junkanoo, broad smiles and cheers. Speaking to the teens, he retold a story of inspiration, reminding students of how when he was their age and had travelled to Nassau, he was made fun of because he was running in bare feet.  In his words:

“I remember when I first went to Nassau, I didn’t have any shoes to run in, and someone said – hey look at that island boy – but guess what, me being barefoot didn’t stop me from running.  Me being barefoot didn’t stop me from going out there and being the best that I could be, because at the end of the day I am who I am.  I don’t need a pair of spikes or shoes to go out there and perform.  God has blessed me with the talent – and the gifts come after.   So be thankful and grateful for what you’ve got, and I want you all to stay encouraged.  If you have someone on your shoulder, stopping you from achieving your goal, tell them – that’s there problem.  So believe in yourself, listen to your teachers and get good grades.  Let’s put Preston Albury, let’s put Eleuthera – wherever you are from,  wherever you are representing, Tarpum Bay, Green Castle, Waterford, Deep Creek, Rock Sound, Wemyss Bight – wherever you’re from – let’s carry the Bahamas, let’s take Eleuthera straight to the top!”

He also told a story of how he was denied a scholarship opportunity as a student and was crushed thinking all his opportunity had been lost. However, thanks to someone who believed in him, doors were opened.

Door slammed close

“I left Eleuthera because I was denied an opportunity to go away and run.  So with that opportunity being denied I left and went to R.M. Bailey in Nassau – so it was a hard and a long road for me.  I left here crying, all the way back home to Wemyss Bight and I thought my opportunity was done.  I wanted to retire.  I wanted to quit.  I wanted to stop running track, period. I didn’t want anything to do with track and field and didn’t want anyone to mention track to me because it was painful.  But because one person believed in me, that I could go out there and achieve greatness – they gave me an opportunity to come back and get back on my feet and brush myself off.”

The one who believed

“That person stands behind me today, Mr. Michael Coakley (pictured left).  I just want to also thank him.  Some days he would pull up in front of our house, and I would be ducking and saying let me see how long he would wait – but he would wait, and wait, and I would have no choice but to come outside to meet him.  He would bring me to this same track and make sure I would do my work out, so it was a long journey.  Sometimes we would go to the basketball court and play basketball and he would come, and after we finished playing basketball I would think that we were done for the rest of the day because I was tired and he was tired, but after the game was over, he would still say, hey, we have to train (and I’m looking at him like, train!). We just finished playing basketball – and he would say, but this was not the workout – so we’ve got to go to the track and get the job done.”

The rest is a very successful story – his…story which is being recorded by the IAAF to be shown to the world during the IAAF world championships in May and will also be recorded by The Eleutheran.

After leaving South Eleuthera the group made the 40 minute drive north to Emma Cooper Primary, Central Eleuthera High and Governor’s Harbour Primary.

Chris Brown arrived at the Central Eleuthera High School (CEHS) campus where he was greeted with a warm welcome from the student body around 2:15pm.  Accompanied by his wife and two daughters, Chris gave a brief yet enlightening message where he encouraged the 400+ students to keep their dreams alive and to always reach for the stars, because the sky is not the limit.  He engaged the athletes of CEHS and even ended off his visit accepting the challenge of a 12th grade student in a run off during his next visit!  Before his departure, Chris took a photo with the three CEHS students selected to represent Eleuthera at the IAAF World Relays event.  This brief yet timely visit enabled the students to get close up with an athlete who has excelled on the international stage, and stands as a role model for many to follow.

On Friday they travel to North Eleuthera, Spanish Wells and Harbour Island.