David Brown

January 19, 1994, fifteen-months-old, David was diagnosed with (Kawasaki disease) a rare disease which caused swelling in the lymph nodes and can attack the inner organs . In his case, it affected his eyes resulting in Glaucoma. Six-years-old and due to numerous eye surgeries, David's dream of being able to see 20/20 started slipping away for seven years. "I remember me being able to see one moment and then completely nothing the next. I was frustrated, confused, and angry; I was in complete denial."

Thirteen-years-old, his vision was confirmed. "The doctor told me that there was no help for my sight. No surgery or medicine could bring back what I had lost. I seriously felt like all hope was lost."

After moving to St. Louis to attend school, that's when he was introduced to track. David was recognized by his coach, for his amazing speed.. After a great amount of success in various national track meets, David caught the eye of US Paralympic Recruiters. April 2010, his junior year, David was called up to the Big Leagues. He ran anchor on the Elite Relay Team and was invited to compete at the Adult Nationals in Miramar, Florida.

David continued to impress the US Paralympic coaches with his Progress, Dedication, Focus and Work Ethics. So much, that it earned him a spot on the 2011 Para Pan American Team, and a spot to live and train fulltime at the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center in San Diego, California, in 2012. "I moved out there in May of Olympic year, and a month and a half before trials. I was so out of shape that my coach was pretty much cramming a whole season into one month. Training twice a day, six days a week, plus lifting three days, Brutal!" David's hard work paid offJune 29, when he was named to the 2012 Paralympic Team. In London, he broke the American Records in both the 100m and 200m Sprints and placed in the Top Ten. It wasn't enough to earn him a spot on the medal stand. It did however; place him on the radar for his competitors. 2013 season, he decided to add on the 400m to his list of competitive races. With World Championships right around the corner, it was time for him to make a decision on what to compete in. After a brutal season of 400m training, he decided to run the 200m and 400m at Worlds. He was progressing in both, and saw he was medal potential. His training paid off. David got fourth in the 200m, and received two Silver Medals; one in the 400m and also the 4x100m relay. All three races were American record times. David came to age in 2014, focusing more on speed for the 100m and 200m races. Coached by Brazilian middle distance legend Joaquim Cruz, David, together with his 100 and 200m guide Jerome Avery, became the first man in his class to go under 11 seconds when he ran 10.92 seconds at a meet that April in California, USA. On the same day as setting his 100m record, David also smashed the 200m record, finishing in 22.41.