David

Brown

Quick Facts

• David Brown was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease at 15 months old, resulting in Glaucoma and ultimately taking his sight by the age of 13
• After moving to St. Louis from Kansas City to attend the Missouri School for the Blind, Brown took up wrestling and goalball before focusing on track
• He first realized his dream of being a Paralympian after winning an essay contest to attend the Paralympic Games Beijing 2008
• Since then, Brown earned a spot on the 2012 U.S. Paralympic Team and has become the fastest totally blind athlete in the world, holding the world record and winning Paralympic gold alongside his sighted guide Jerome Avery
• Son of Francine Brown and has one older sister, Breana
• Enjoys playing music in his free time. Plays the drums, piano and tenor saxophone and was formerly in a jazz band
• Favourite sport is basketball outside of track and his favorite team is the Chicago Bulls
• Heroes are his mom, grandpa and his coach, Joaquim Cruz
• Carries the motto of “Running4HISGlory+"
• Hobbies include listening to and making music, reading, writing poetry hanging out with friends and public speaking.

Career Highlights

• The first totally blind athlete to run under 11 seconds when he clocked 10.92 in 2014
• Years of participation: 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019. Medals: 5 (2 gold, 3 silver). Most recent: 2019 – semifinals (100-meter).

Paralympic Experience

• 3-time Paralympian; 1-time Paralympic medalist (1 gold)
• Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, 7th (100m T11 - Men)
• Paralympic Games Rio de Janeiro 2016, gold (100m T11 - Men), 6th (200m T11 - Men), 8th (400m T11 - Men)
• Paralympic Games London 2012, (4 x 100m Relay T11-13 - Men), 6th (100m T11 - Men), 8th (200m T11 - Men)

World Championships Experience

• Most recent: 2019 – 6th (100m T11 - Men)
• Years of participation: 100m T11 - Men 2015, 2017, 2019; 200m T11 - Men 2013, 2015, 2017; 4 x 100m Relay T11-13 - Men 2013, 2017; 400m T11 - Men 2013
• Medals: 5 (2 gold, 3 silver)
• Gold – 2017 (100m T11 - Men); 2015 (100m T11 - Men)
• Silver – 2017 (200m T11 - Men); 2013 (4 x 100m Relay T11-13 - Men, 400m T11 - Men)