Be Inspired by David Brown, The World's Fastest Blind Runner and His Guide Runner, Jerome Avery
Stories of Greatness™ Series
What would you do if you started to lose your eyesight and go blind?
Would you give up on life and lay down. Would you complain that life isn't fair? Would you get angry? Or would you push forward until blindness became your strength, your way to inspire others to not give up when life gets tough? That's what David Brown a Missouri native did. He pushed through blindness caused by Kawasaki disease to become the fastest blind sprinter in the world and a Gold Medalist in the RIO 2016 Paralympic Games. David lives by this motto, “Your only limit is what you set for yourself.”
“Your only limit is what you set for yourself.”
Nothing Short of Inspirational
Four years ago, I had the awesome experience to meet David Brown on the track at Lone Peak High School. David was at the track helping coach and inspire other Utah runners to push through difficult times with a smile. You could see faces of the track athletes light up as he demonstrated his speed while running blind. He also spent time teaching them to not give up on their dreams when life gets tough. At the time, David was training hard to earn chance to run in the 2016 Paralympic Games in RIO.
Greatness is Found on the Other Side of Trials
At 15 months old, David was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease (a rare condition that can result in inflammation of the blood vessels) that resulted in Glaucoma.
By 3 years old, David had lost his left eye due to surgery, and lost vision in his right eye by age 13. David said this of losing his sight, "I remember being able to see one moment and then completely nothing the next. I was frustrated, confused, and angry; I was in complete denial. It was hard at first, but God had a plan.” David is someone with the tenacity and the passion to succeed no matter the obstacle—even blindness.
“It was hard at first, but God had a plan.”
David reminds us to not fear a trial or life challenge. He will tell you that greatness is found on the other side of the trial. If you don’t let the trial stop you, you will emerge a stronger person.”
In 2008, David won an easy contest that earned him a trip to the Paraolympics in Beijing, China, which sparked his interest in competing in the games. “I came back home and wrote out a life plan. I want to run fast,” David said.
He took his talents of tenacity, strength, and faith and learned to run blind. David found strong life purpose as he aligned his talents to his new found passion of running. Running helped David escape from blindness. Running allowed him to use his legs, heart, and soul to defy the odds of blindness.
“I came back home and wrote out a life plan. I want to run fast.”
Rise to New Visions of Greatness
David’s times in sprinting the 100-meter dash were improving. He rose through the ranks of blind sprinters, performing well at the Penn Relays and earned a spot at Chula Vista, California, a sprawling complex in the hills where the U.S Olympic Committee provides athletes with room and board so they can train full time.
As I talked with David on the Lone Peak Track, I quickly learned that his approach to life was simple, yet profound. He told me, "Life will give you challenges, but the most important thing is to not let those challenges get you down. You have to rise to a new vision of what life can bring you. You need to rise to new visions of greatness. The tough times will test you. If you approach them right, they will make you better and stronger. Accepting my blindness and moving forward with courage opened up a new world for me. Running blind allows me to inspire others. Even though I can't see their faces, I can feel their energy and their support. That makes me happy."
“Accepting my blindness and moving forward with courage opened up a new world for me. Running blind allows me to inspire others. Even though I can’t see their faces, I can feel their energy and their support. That makes me happy.”
Failure is the Ultimate Guide to Greatness
In 2004, another runner named Jerome Avery was pursuing his dream to compete in the 100-meter dash at the Athens Olympic Games. Failing to advance past the 100-meter dash quarterfinals at the U.S. Olympic Trials, Jerome started on a new path when a friend suggested another option—become a guide runner for Paralympic Athletics.
Within months of joining the program, Jerome accompanied the team to Greece where he found a new talent—helping guide sprint runners. Jerome has one characteristic that has made him different than the other talented sprinters who had come and gone through the program. Jerome was willing to put his own dreams on the back burner. He said, “I thought running for myself was my goal in life. I was good at it. Come to find out, I’m really good at guide running.” This story reminds me that failure is the ultimate guide to success. On the other side of failure lies greatness—the new stronger you.
“I thought running for myself was my goal in life. I was good at it. Come to find out, I’m really good at guide running.”
David Meets Jerome
David was introduced to Jerome by Joaquim Cruz who was David’s coach. The match was ideal. Within a few months, David guided by Jerome set the 100-meter world record for totally blind sprinters at 10.92 seconds. David was now the fastest blind sprinter in the world.
The Fastest Blind Runner in the World
David and his guide, Jerome are the fastest 100-meter dash running team in the world. David and Jerome are the current world champion and double world record holders in the 100-meter and 200 meter sprints. David and Jerome teach us that life's obstacles can give us a powerful lift if we respond to them in a positive way. Being blind never is an excuse for David. He has achieved his dream of becoming the fastest blind runner in the world.
Paralympic Gold Medalists
David Brown and Jerome Avery were crowned Paralympic Gold Medalist on September 11, 2016. You can watch their inspiring Gold Medal Performance Here.
The Shoe String and Trust
David and Jerome us a shoestring to help them run at world record speed. The four to eight inch shoestring helps align their running motion during their sprint races. David and Jerome demonstrated this perfectly on the track at Lone Peak High School. It's inspiring.
The shoe string helps them pump their arms and legs in perfect unison. It helps them develop identical strides as they reach superhuman speeds. You'll here Jerome yell, "Drive." Their unison and passion to succeed inspire me to push through my current challenges in life. If David hasn't let blindness stop him, then my challenges shouldn't stop me.
Here are three powerful life principles David and Jerome can teach you about overcoming obstacles and rising to greatness.
3 Lessons to Overcome Life's Obstacles and Rise to Greatness
1. Dig Deep When Life Hits Hard
Life hits hard. Things happen. Things change. When the storm and challenges come—dig deep. Don't give up. Take a deep breath and keep moving forward. If you keep your head up, you'll find the solution to your problems. Your problem will make you stronger and you can use that strength to help others who might some day need your love and support.
2. Surround Yourself with Believers
David and Jerome have a fan base that continues to support and lift them. At David's young age, his mother, Francine, moved David to Missouri so he could attend the Missouri School of Blind. It's inspiring to read the comments of those supporting David on Facebook and other social media sites. When life's obstacles hit, surround yourself with people who believe in you. This will help you find strength to overcome your challenges with the right people by your side.
3. Move Forward with Faith
David has to run with faith. He has faith that Jerome is running down the right path. He has faith in his legs and running skills. He uses his faith to push hard to the finish line with powerful confidence that he'll succeed. Each of us must do the same. Once we're faced with the challenge, we must move forward with faith. The clouds that cover us will disappear. The sun will rise. It's really up to us to be moving forward not backward or stalling with no motion. Move forward with faith.
I'm grateful to have met David Brown and Jerome Avery. They inspire me. They continue to inspire the world with a powerful manifestation that trials are the ultimate guide to greatness.
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Author/Pictures: Burke Alder