Mentoring young girls and women continues to be one of Veronica Campbell-Brown's main aims even after her retirement from the sport of track and field in 2021.
The eight-time Olympic medalist spoke during an interview at the Edwin Moses Legends Meet held at Morehouse College in Atlanta on Saturday.
“It is important to me to mentor not only Jamaican track & field but females in general because, growing up, I had a lot of influential women there to support and inspire me,” she said.
“Inspiring others is one of the things that I’m passionate about because I know that a lot it’s not just about your talent or how good you are, it’s about how mentally tough and resilient you are to go towards your goals and get over the hurdles and obstacles that are in your way,” Campbell-Brown added.
Most of her motivational work is done through her foundation, Veronica Campbell-Brown Foundation.
“I’m very interested in motivating and I’m always doing that. I motivate girls through my foundation and every chance I get, I try to inspire and uplift girls and women to achieve their goals no matter the obstacles they face,” she said.
Campbell-Brown also offered her opinion on the rise of women’s sports in general.
“It’s continuing to rise and get more respect and attention which is great. It takes the entire world to come behind all of us and just motivate, push and support us because as women we have to work extra hard to achieve what we want and to break down the glass ceiling,” she stated.
The 42-year-old is the second of three women in history to win consecutive Olympic 200m titles and is also one of only nine athletes to win world championships at the youth, junior, and senior levels.
She boasts personal bests of 10.76 seconds in the 100m and 21.74 seconds in the 200m.
Campbell-Brown was the 100m gold medalist at the 2007 World Championships and the 200m gold medalist at the 2011 World Championships.
Throughout her illustrious career, she has also secured seven silver medals and one bronze medal at the World Championships.
She is also a two-time World Indoor champion over 60m.
Bradley Jacks is a budding journalist and an avid sports fan. His love of research and sports has led him to SportsMax.tv, a place where those passions work hand in hand to allow him to produce content.
Olympic champion Julien Alfred gifted EC$1 million, highway to be renamed, monument to be erected in her honour
In a historic celebration of her unprecedented achievements, St. Lucia’s Olympic gold medalist Julien Alfred was honoured with a series of prestigious awards and accolades on Friday, September 27, officially designated as 'Julien Alfred Day.' The island nation’s government and its people came together to pay tribute to the 22-year-old sprint sensation, who has made history and brought immense pride to St. Lucia on the global stage.
The government, led by Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, announced several significant honours for Alfred during a celebratory event on Friday night. Among the most notable was the announcement that the Millennium Highway would be renamed the Julien Alfred Highway. In addition, a monument will be constructed in her honour at the new Cul de Sac Roundabout, ensuring that her legacy will be a lasting part of St. Lucia’s infrastructure.
Alfred will also receive a government gift of EC$1 million, as well as a plot of land of her choice, measuring 10,720 square feet. Furthermore, the prime minister revealed plans for a Julien Alfred commemorative stamp and a commemorative exercise book featuring photos of the Olympic champion, cementing her place in the nation’s history.
These grand gestures came after a whirlwind year for Alfred, who became the first St. Lucian to win a medal at the Olympic Games. She captured gold in the 100m and silver in the 200m at the 2024 Paris Olympics, further solidifying her status as a national hero. Earlier in the year, she won the 60m title at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, and she recently capped her outstanding season by winning the 100m Diamond League title in Brussels.
The day of festivities began with Alfred receiving a special award from George Pagoulatos, the Greek Ambassador to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, added symbolic weight to the award, further emphasizing Alfred’s status among the world’s elite athletes.
Following this presentation, Alfred was honored by the St. Lucia Olympic Committee (SLOC) with a cash award of EC$75,000, a token of appreciation for her historic achievements and the pride she has brought to her country.
These latest honours follow a private dinner held Thursday night, hosted by the BodyHoliday Resort and First National Bank, where family and friends celebrated her remarkable success.
The day-long celebrations culminated in a special concert on Friday night, where fans, dignitaries, and fellow athletes gathered to celebrate Alfred’s achievements. The emotional occasion saw Alfred express heartfelt gratitude to the people of St. Lucia for their unwavering support throughout her journey.
The event also marked a defining moment in St. Lucia’s sporting history, as the island nation rallied around its Olympic hero, who was also named St Lucia's Tourism Ambassador
As Julien Alfred’s star continues to rise, 'Julien Alfred Day' will be remembered as a historic celebration of one of St. Lucia’s greatest sporting icons.
Julien Alfred honoured with special award and cash prize on 'Julien Alfred Day' in St. Lucia
Julien Alfred’s whirlwind year of achievements was celebrated in grand style on Friday, designated as ‘Julien Alfred Day’ in her home country of St. Lucia. The Olympic gold and silver medalist, who has enjoyed a stellar first year as a professional athlete, received a special award and a cash prize in recognition of her historic accomplishments.
The 22-year-old sprint star has had an unforgettable year. After winning the 60m title at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow in March, she cemented her place in history with a gold medal in the 100m at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, becoming the first St. Lucian to win an Olympic medal. She followed that performance with a silver in the 200m, further solidifying her status as a national hero. Alfred capped her remarkable season by winning the prestigious 100m Diamond League title in Brussels earlier this month.
On Friday morning, the celebrations continued with a special award presented by George Pagoulatos, the Greek Ambassador to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. The presentation held extra significance, as Greece is the birthplace of the Olympic Games, making the moment a symbolic recognition of Alfred’s place among the world’s elite athletes.
Following the ambassador's presentation, Alfred was then honoured by the St. Lucia Olympic Committee (SLOC) with a cash prize of EC$75,000, a token of appreciation for her historic feats on the global stage. The financial award was a gesture of gratitude for the pride and joy she has brought to St. Lucia.
These latest tributes came on the heels of a private dinner held in her honour on Wednesday night, hosted by the BodyHoliday Resort and First National Bank, where family and friends gathered to celebrate her unprecedented achievements.
The day of celebrations will be capped off with a special concert on Friday night, where fans, dignitaries, and fellow athletes came together to honour Alfred’s achievements in music and entertainment. It was an emotional moment for Alfred, who expressed her gratitude to the people of St. Lucia for their unwavering support throughout her journey.
The sprint sensation has made history for her small island nation, and with her star continuing to rise, 'Julien Alfred Day' will no doubt be remembered as a significant moment in St. Lucia’s sporting history.
Camacho-Quinn, Ta Lou Smith, and Paulino claim crowns in electrifying Athlos NYC debut
In a night of high drama and world-class performances, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Marie-Josée Ta Lou Smith, and Marileidy Paulino emerged victorious at the inaugural Athlos NYC meeting held at Icahn Stadium on Thursday night. Joined by Faith Kipyegon, Brittany Brown, and Tsige Duguma, who also captured titles, the star-studded all-women's event showcased the very best of women’s athletics on a global stage.
The brainchild of Alexis Ohanian, husband of tennis legend Serena Williams, the event brought together 36 elite female athletes to compete for one of the richest prize purses in track and field with US$60,000 to each winner. The sold-out stadium, buzzing with energy and filled with celebrity attendees, witnessed six intense events where athletes vied not only for cash prizes and recognition but also for a stunning Tiffany crown valued at US$25,000. To top it off, the evening was augmented by music and entertainment, creating an atmosphere that felt more like a festival of sport than a traditional meet.
Camacho-Quinn set the tone early, storming to victory in the 100m hurdles in 12.36 seconds against a stacked field. Alaysha Johnson finished a close second in 12.43, while Olympic champion Masai Russell took third with a time of 12.44. Jamaica’s Danielle Williams, a two-time world champion, finished fifth with 12.56.
In the 100m, Marie-Josée Ta Lou Smith put on a masterclass, claiming the crown with a time of 10.98 seconds in a hotly contested race. Brittany Brown, the 2024 Diamond League 200m champion, was a close second with a season-best 11.05, followed by Candace Hill in third with 11.14. Brown's night didn’t end there, as she later returned to edge Olympic champion Gabby Thomas in the 200m, clocking 22.18 to Thomas’ 22.21.
Marileidy Paulino, the Olympic champion, dominated the 400m with a commanding 49.59, holding off Alexis Holmes, who finished second in 49.99 after overtaking Salwa Eid Naser down the home stretch. Naser ended up third in 50.44.
Faith Kipyegon, a three-time Olympic 1500m champion, put in a characteristic performance, cruising to victory in a controlled 4:04.79, comfortably ahead of Diribe Welteji (4:05.58) and Susan Ejore-Sanders (4:06.25).
In the 800m, Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma outclassed her rivals, including Kenya’s Mary Moraa and Jamaica’s Natoya Goule-Toppin, with a late burst in the final stretch to win in 1:57.43. Moraa placed second in 1:58.05, while Goule-Toppin, running one of her best races of the season, clocked 1:58.63 for third.
The groundbreaking Athlos NYC meeting is more than just a competition; it marks a transformative moment for women’s athletics. With its blend of elite performance, entertainment, and record-breaking financial rewards, it has set a new standard in the sport. Alexis Ohanian's vision of a premier all-women’s track meet has been realized, and the Athlos NYC meeting has already positioned itself as a must-watch event on the global track and field calendar.
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