Losing His Sight at 13 Turned Him Into the World’s Fastest Athlete

David Brown isn’t just a runner; he’s a force of nature. At 31, Brown is not only aiming for his fourth consecutive Paralympic Games but also rewriting the narrative of what it means to be a world-class athlete. Competing in the T11 classification of Para Athletics, Brown’s recent victory at the U.S. Paralympics Team Trials in Miramar, Florida, is a testament to his unwavering spirit. With his sights set on Paris 2024, Brown is preparing for his final chapter on the track. His journey from losing his sight at 13 to becoming the fastest totally blind athlete in the world is nothing short of extraordinary. Brown’s journey to becoming a world-class athlete began with a life-changing event at the age of 13 when he lost his sight. Despite this, he never lost his vision for a bright future. A pivotal moment came when he won an essay contest at the Missouri School for the Blind, earning him a trip to the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing. Witnessing the power and dedication of Paralympic athletes firsthand ignited a flame within him. “When I went to Beijing, China, and saw the magnitude that this sport is, I was like, ‘You know what? This...