VCB encourages fans to stay strong

THE OUTBREAK of the coronavirus has set back Veronica Campbell-Brown’s (‘VCB’) dream of participating in her sixth straight Olympic Games this year.

However, the two-time Olympic 200m champion is not perturbed by the new challenges the virus has presented to the world, and is encouraging her supporters to also not give in to the pressure.

In an Instagram post, Campbell-Brown said: “I just wanna give you a few words of encouragements. We are in an unprecedented time and we are faced with so many challenges, but in the midst of all the new things that we have to adapt to, I just want to remind you that you have the strength and the capacity to go through this phase and come out stronger on the other side. So stay motivated, stay positive, do not lose hope and know that this too shall past. Continue to follow the guidelines to keep yourself, your family and your community safe.”

ICING ON THE CAKE

Campbell-Brown, who made her Olympic debut in 2000 at the Sydney Games, where she helped Jamaica to a silver medal in the women’s 4x100m at the age of 18, said earlier this year that qualifying for the Tokyo Games would be the ‘icing on the cake’ for her long and illustrious career.

“It would be the icing on the cake if I am able to run in my sixth Olympic Games, because I feel like I don’t have anything else to prove,” she said at the time.

The former Vere Technical standout won back-to-back Olympic titles in the 200m at the Athens and Beijing Games in 2004 and 2008, respectively.

She also anchored Jamaica to gold in the 4x100m at the Athens Games.

After last month’s postponement of the Tokyo Games to 2021, the 38-year-old said on Instagram: “I want to encourage all my fellow athletes to keep their Olympic dreams alive and continue to prepare as best as possible, so when the time is right you will be ready to seize the opportunity to showcase your talent.”

The Tokyo Games is now set for the July 23 to August 8, 2021.