‘The Fireman’ calls for more facilities

Bahamian Olympian Chris “The Fireman” Brown is calling on all stakeholders to ensure that there are more track and field facilities and stadiums throughout the country in hopes of better performances on the world stage.

Brown shared those sentiments while he was a guest on popular morning talk show “Morning Blend” with host Dwight Strachan on Guardian Radio 96.9FM Wednesday morning.

“I have been preaching this same story for the last 20 years – that we need more stadiums and tracks. Even at some of the high schools, you can barely find a track in the high schools. I would say that if [we] were to start some type of initiative where we have a fund put aside for it, I think more people would be giving, especially the alumni who are doing well now. It is about getting the ball rolling and once the ball starts rolling, persons are going to chip in. Most persons don’t want to do something until it is moving.”

The Eleuthera native said he does not want to sound insensitive as he knows that it is tough with the COVID-19 pandemic, but he wants Bahamians to continue to strive for their best.

“There needs to be more sports development and there needs to be more incentives for the coaches, especially those in The Bahamas who work diligently to get our kids motivated. We are still sharing one track and still in a time where we use one stadium,” Brown said.

“We need to find new ways to spread it out throughout the country in places like Eleuthera, Abaco and Andros. We have some of the best talent coming from the islands and  you cannot find a proper track and facility to even use, which is ludicrous.”

The 400 meters sprint specialist said that going forward, he thinks that track and field needs someone who is going to care about the sport.

“…Someone who is really going to share that interest and that passion to be able to spread it out. I have been in the game for a while and I have seen so many different sports ministers in there,” Brown stated.

He is now the head coach at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II level for Clayton State University in Morrow, Georgia. He took a break to give his body some rest and has been working at making the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games for Team Bahamas. The meet has since been postponed to Summer 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will still be held in Tokyo, Japan.

“I gave my body two years of rest after competing for 16 or 17 years. In 2017 and 2018, I decided to take off after the 2016 Rio Olympics to give my body some rest because I have been going for so long. I am hungry, excited and yearning for competitions. It does not feel like age is a factor because I am still able to get my workouts and meet the times that I need to meet,” Brown said.

Brown has won medals on four different 4x400m relay teams and was the flagbearer at the 2012 London Olympic Games. He won one gold medal at those same Olympic Games and one silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. His two bronze medals came at the 2018 Beijing Olympic Games and the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

He is able to keep up with his competitors. Until he feels like his body is starting to breakdown or injuries are knocking at his door then he will not push any further. Unlike other persons who put a number on their career or in their live, Brown said he doesn’t put a number on anything. He said he will stop when God gives him the red light.

He will not be going after the 400m individual sprint race but rather, he is looking at the 4x400m relays. Brown wants to ensure that the country wins another medal in that event as they have won a medal in that event every Olympic Games since 2000 with the exception of 2004.

“Right now, I will say that the team is a bit scattered,” Brown said. “There haven’t been a solid leader on the team to lead the guys and get them motivated. That was my role for the last 16 or 17 years and when I left the team for a while, I left with it. No one picked up the baton so once the leadership gets back in order, I speak to the guys on a regular and they have said they are training and getting ready so let’s see what happens.”

He thinks that the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games will get underway next year even if it means no spectators and if there are spectators, there will be stringent testing and protocols.

Brown said at first when the virus hit this region back in March, persons had little knowledge of how to deal with the virus. Now people know how to plan for it. At Clayton, they have social distancing, temperature checks when he goes to work and also the student-athletes. They are also required to wear masks. His team is out practicing everyday and some students are doing face-to-face learning with a certain limit.

After the Olympic Games next year, Brown said that what he does after will be determined by God’s guidance. That can mean more coaching or anything else. If God’s plans includes him coming home and helping to lead the country, then he will be open to it.

For now, the Eleuthera native will keep on training for the Olympic Games while he is at Clayton coaching.

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