Feature Stories
In Their Words: Lascelles Brown
Feb 23, 2008
Lascelles Brown of Clarendon, Jamaica has been a competitive bobsledder since 1999. As a member of the Jamaican bobsleigh team, Brown became the first Jamaican-born athlete to win an Olympic Winter Games medal. At the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games, the Jamaican duo of Brown and breakman Winston Watt set the track push record.
Brown moved from Jamaica to Canada for the 2004-05 season and continued his bobsleigh training at Calgary's Canada Olympic Park. Shortly afterward, Brown and Canadian bobsleigh legend Pierre Lueders won the world title and four World Cup victories.
Brown was granted his Canadian citizenship just prior to the 2006 Winter Games, enabling him to compete for Canada in Torino. Brown and Leuders won a silver medal in the two-man event.
To Make Canada Proud by Lascelles Brown
Competing for Jamaica at the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games in bobsleigh was amazing. The whole experience was filled with all kinds of that “once in a lifetime” stuff including setting a bobsleigh start record and a guest appearance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
There was something missing though — the whole reason I wanted to go to the Olympics in the first place — the chance at winning a medal. That would follow.
While still a resident of Jamaica, a staff member of Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton suggested that I should slide for Canada — something I didn’t even know was a possibility. I then made a decision to move to Canada and do everything necessary to start sliding for the team. That decision to move seemed obvious, seeing as my family was Canadian. Canada is now my home.
In my first year of bobsledding for Canada, Pierre Lueders and I won the two-man bobsleigh at the World Championship. Unbelievable! I have since won countless World Cup medals, several World Championship medals, and yes, even an Olympic Winter Games medal. Canada has welcomed me with open arms.
I am so proud to be a Canadian. I am so proud to represent Canada at my sport. I am honoured that people look up to me.
Competing at the Olympics for Canada was an amazing experience once, and it will be even greater the second time, especially because the Games are coming home. I can’t wait for the 2010 Winter Games to arrive. I hope to add a couple more Olympic medals to my collection and to make Canada proud in 2010.
To be able to compete for Canada is an amazing thing in itself. To win for Canada, however, is indescribable. Vancouver 2010 will be the perfect way to close the athlete chapter of my life. Competing in my country, in front of all my fellow Canadians, in front of my wife Kara, and daughters Zody and Qiana, in front of all my extended family and friends — I can’t think of a better way to finish my career, except of course by winning two gold medals.
In Their Words Series
In Their Words is a celebration of the two-year countdown to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. This 17-part series is comprised of personal stories written by Olympians and leaders with a passion for the Games. Visit vancouver2010.com every day from February 12 to 28 for a fresh story of inspiration, triumph and hope.
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© 2009 The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
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