Brendon Rodney gives back to Father Henry Carr track program

Sporting braces and a slimmer frame than most sprinters, Olympic 4x100-metres relay medallist Brendon Rodney can pass for a few years younger than his true age. But when it comes to acts of generosity, the 24-year-old Brampton, Ont., native is wise beyond his years.

Rodney started track in Grade 9 after a winter of playing basketball. “My gym teacher asked me to come to a track meet and I said ‘ok’. I didn’t even run any individual events my first year. I was a high jumper,” said Rodney. “[I had] a lot of good experiences. High school track was fun. You got to meet a lot of different people and go to different places. For me there wasn’t a lot of seriousness with it.”

After watching his team compete in a relay, Rodney decided it was time to try a race on the track. “I saw one of my teammates get run down in the relay and I thought, I have be faster than that. Put me on the relay team,” chuckled Rodney.

The switch from high jump to sprinting, in addition to the help of others, has taken Rodney further than he could have ever imagined. “People made it possible for me to race in New York City. That really opened my eyes to see how many fast people were out there. At most races in Canada, Aaron Brown (now Brendon’s teammate) was always the fastest guy. In New York, there were like 10 guys equally as fast as him.” Less than a decade later, Rodney is one of only two Canadian men to go under 20 seconds in the 200-metres.

After the 2016 Olympic Games Rodney made time to visit his high school, Father Henry Carr, to talk with the students and faculty about his experience in Rio. While recounting a few stories and highlights from his trip, which included winning a bronze medal in the men’s 4x100-metres relay, memories came back to Rodney about his high school track days.

Before leaving the event, Rodney talked with his high school coach, Peter Miller, and asked if there was anything he could do to help the team. “I remember when we were in high school and we didn’t always have the best gear or equipment. This school has been good to me and a small donation for new rain jackets and uniforms seemed like the right thing to do,” said Rodney.

“Coach Peter Miller made a real impact on my life. He was there for me during the good and bad times. He’s a guy that looked out for me and all the athletes he’s coached. When you find someone like that, you keep them in your corner and you do anything to help them as much as they’ve helped you,” said Rodney.

“I was really touched when I heard about Brendon’s donation to his high school,” said Glenroy Gilbert, Olympic gold medallist and coach of the Canadian relay squad. “It shows a terrific maturation and thoughtfulness way beyond a guy of his years. To donate that kind of money to help the next generation, it truly shows his love for the sport and his love for the future of the sport.”

With his sights on the World Relays and World Championships in 2017, Rodney hopes his gift will encourage other Canadian athletes to lend a helping hand. “I learned in university the importance of giving back and to do for others. I was once in that situation. Being able to give back to the coaches and athletes at Father Henry Carr was the right thing to do.”

Discus Form Feature Bg

Subscribe to the Media Distribution List

SUPPORT THE TEAM SUPPORT THE TEAM SUPPORT THE TEAM SUPPORT THE TEAM SUPPORT THE TEAM
Grey Hoodie
SafeSport Website Graphic Small Text

Safe Sport: Promotion. Prevention. Response.

Athletics Canada Safe Sport
surya168 akun pro thailand slot gacor maxwin akunjp daftar slot gacor judi bola situs judi bola resmi