Brittany Brown is competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics. [PC: Instagram/Brittany Brown, captured by Taylor]

Meet Brittany Brown, the 'unconventional' American sprinter who qualified for the 200m semifinals at Paris Olympics 2024

Modified Aug 04, 2024 13:04 GMT

Brittany Brown stunned everyone at the Track and Field U.S. Olympic Team Trials to book her spot at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She put in one of her best 200m performances at the Olympic Trials. Running in the outside lane, she clocked a sub-22 second finish, her first in two years.

Compared to other American track and field athletes, Brown has carved a very different part for herself. After the Olympic trials, she took to social media to reflect on the same and express her delight at being picked to take part in the Summer Games.

My name is Brittany Shamere Brown. I never won a track state title. I didn’t go to a “big track school”, I never won a NCAA Title. Wasn’t signed right out of college to a shoe company. BUT I JUST WOKE UP AN OLYMPIAN!!" she said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

She graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in Human Services. There, she took part in the 100m and 200m for the Iowa Hawkeyes, her college team.

The American has had some success over the years. She won the silver medal at the 2019 World Championships. Earlier this year, she won the women’s 200m final at the World Athletics Diamond League in Norway.

In the French capital on Sunday (August 4), Brown blazed through her 200m heat. She clocked 22.38 seconds to earn a spot in the semifinals. Only three athletes ran faster than her in the heats — Gabby Thomas (22.20 seconds), Favor Ofili (22.24 seconds), and Dina Asher-Smith (22.28 seconds).

Brittany Brown signed with Nike ahead of 2024 Paris Olympics

Brittany Brown in action at the 2024 Paris Olympics - Getty Images

Not long after Brittany Brown posted on social media about how she was not signed by a shoe company right out of college, Nike swapped in to sign her up.

Brown was previously sponsored by Adidas from 2020 through last month’s U.S. Olympic Trials. And three weeks after qualifying for her first U.S. Olympic team in the 200 meters, she signed a professional contract with Nike.

"After the Trials, I found myself being a free agent with my existing deal having expired. I was drawn to Nike because of their significant investment in women's sports. I deeply value the direction that Nike is going and I’m excited to star this new chapter of my professional career!" she said about signing with Nike. (via Citrus Mag)

Brown will be in action again on Monday (August 5) in the semifinals, with the final scheduled to take place on Tuesday.