Dear Editor,
Now that the Rio Olympics are over, I now ask what’s next for Veronica Campbell Brown?
The sprint royal added yet another Olympic medal — a silver — to her already impressive collection. So far her medal table from five Olympic appearances stands at 3 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze. During her illustrious career, which earned her some 50 global medals, she’s enjoyed soaring highs and dismal lows.
At age 34, one of the most respectable figures in track and field is still looking to press on, despite what many are saying is her last lap. With World Championships heading back to London next year, it’s a possibility she will make an appearance. But before VCB can set her sights on another medal or two, she must clean house. And by that I mean get a new coach and possibly new management. On Track Management, which currently manages the star, is yet to show me or, by extension, the world “Brand VCB”.
Over the years, VCB has kept a low-key appearance which may have hurt her career, especially in this digital and social media era. It was just last year she decided to join
Facebook and
Instagram. I prefer not to compare, but other female athletes have done a better job at maintaining a presence in the public’s eye. Their brands, therefore, boom and corporate Jamaica responds. With VCB, her approach is laid back and chill; too chill, if you ask me, that sometimes she even neglects the people who revere her. She is looked on as royalty, a queen for her regal-like grace and poise, but that can also hurt her career in this day and age.
I don’t think her management team is aggressive in building her brand. Legacy aside, she is probably only thought of when she hits the track for a showdown, whereas other brands like Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce are on billboards or in our living rooms on our television sets. Just the other day while at the gym I heard someone say, “VCB will be a forgotten champion.” Of course, I quickly checked that person, but when looking back there was a little spot of truth in his statement. A brand is built so that when the time comes for a person to retire, they can still get their coinage.
As for coaching, Omar Brown has to go. As VCB’s biggest fan, I want the best for her, and I’m sure the world too. Omar is not what the career doctor has ordered. Since Brown has taken up the coaching job, VCB has not ran a PB in both the 100m and 200m or won an individual gold medal at a major championships. Currently, she seems to be running off talent alone. While I do respect Brown and all he’s accomplished, I have to call a spade a spade. For an athlete so seasoned as VCB, it’s almost tragic to see her so unaware of her own predicament that she’s hired her husband to coach such an important phase of her career.
I love VCB with all my heart, and I want her to win in life, but I think its time to do some spring cleaning. Team VCB has some work to do, and I hope she sees this. I look forward to a new chapter in her already storied career.
Romane Hibbert
sincerelyromane@yahoo.com
Now that the Rio Olympics are over, I now ask what’s next for Veronica Campbell Brown?
The sprint royal added yet another Olympic medal — a silver — to her already impressive collection. So far her medal table from five Olympic appearances stands at 3 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze. During her illustrious career, which earned her some 50 global medals, she’s enjoyed soaring highs and dismal lows.
At age 34, one of the most respectable figures in track and field is still looking to press on, despite what many are saying is her last lap. With World Championships heading back to London next year, it’s a possibility she will make an appearance. But before VCB can set her sights on another medal or two, she must clean house. And by that I mean get a new coach and possibly new management. On Track Management, which currently manages the star, is yet to show me or, by extension, the world “Brand VCB”.
Over the years, VCB has kept a low-key appearance which may have hurt her career, especially in this digital and social media era. It was just last year she decided to join
Facebook and
Instagram. I prefer not to compare, but other female athletes have done a better job at maintaining a presence in the public’s eye. Their brands, therefore, boom and corporate Jamaica responds. With VCB, her approach is laid back and chill; too chill, if you ask me, that sometimes she even neglects the people who revere her. She is looked on as royalty, a queen for her regal-like grace and poise, but that can also hurt her career in this day and age.
I don’t think her management team is aggressive in building her brand. Legacy aside, she is probably only thought of when she hits the track for a showdown, whereas other brands like Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce are on billboards or in our living rooms on our television sets. Just the other day while at the gym I heard someone say, “VCB will be a forgotten champion.” Of course, I quickly checked that person, but when looking back there was a little spot of truth in his statement. A brand is built so that when the time comes for a person to retire, they can still get their coinage.
As for coaching, Omar Brown has to go. As VCB’s biggest fan, I want the best for her, and I’m sure the world too. Omar is not what the career doctor has ordered. Since Brown has taken up the coaching job, VCB has not ran a PB in both the 100m and 200m or won an individual gold medal at a major championships. Currently, she seems to be running off talent alone. While I do respect Brown and all he’s accomplished, I have to call a spade a spade. For an athlete so seasoned as VCB, it’s almost tragic to see her so unaware of her own predicament that she’s hired her husband to coach such an important phase of her career.
I love VCB with all my heart, and I want her to win in life, but I think its time to do some spring cleaning. Team VCB has some work to do, and I hope she sees this. I look forward to a new chapter in her already storied career.
Romane Hibbert
sincerelyromane@yahoo.com