With a time of 22.20 in Paris, Brown became the first Hawkeye women’s track and field athlete to win an individual Olympic medal.
Brittany Brown (USA) participates in the women’s 200m semifinal heat at the Stade de France during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games in Paris Saint-Denis, France. Required Credit: USA TODAY Sports’ Andrew Nelles Brittany Brown, a former sprinter for the University of Iowa, not only created history for her old university but also excelled in her Olympic debut. Brown, an Iowa graduate from 2018 who won the bronze in the 200 meters on Tuesday, became the first Hawkeye women’s track and field individual medalist. Brown saw this as a turning point in her life, and she utilized the achievement to motivate others and admit her own problems.
Beginning in lane six at the Stade de France in Paris, Brown overtook Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita of Great Britain in the last lap to take third place. She ran a 22.20, which was her second-best time at the Olympics. Brown qualified automatically for the semifinals with a 22.38, having run a 22.38 in the first round. Brown trailed American gold medallist Gabby Thomas and Saint Lucian runner-up Julian Alfred. She is the first track and field Olympian from Iowa since 1996 and the eighth overall.
Brown, an eleven-time All-American in the Black and Gold, won the Big Ten 200-meter championship in 2018 and continues to own the school record in the same distance. Joey Woody, a longtime director of track and field in Iowa, spoke highly of his former student. In a statement, Woody added, “She had a great career as a Hawkeye and it’s fun to watch her continue that success on the Olympic stage.” She has persevered through a great deal of hardship by remaining dedicated to her objectives. The culmination of all she has worked so hard at her sport was tonight.
In an emotional post-race press conference, Brown detailed the challenges she faced en route to the podium, including endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome. The World Health Organization estimates that millions of women worldwide are impacted by these illnesses. According to a Hawk Central story, Brown did not have a sponsor her first year as a professional after graduating from college without winning an NCAA individual title. She has missed some training due to a sports hernia and labrum rupture in her hip over the last two years.
“To every athlete who has reached out to me and said, ‘I am not looked at, the coaches don’t pay attention to me,’ and to all the women who deal with health issues, endo, PCOS, and so on,” Brown added. And since I am one of them, I can relate to them. Thus, this isn’t for me; rather, it’s for everyone who encourages me and all the females with dark complexion who resemble me. She went on, “I’m just so appreciative that I could be a vessel.” I’m so appreciative that I can use myself right now here. as I’m not the focus of it.
