As a competitor, Sani Brown aims to be the best in the world. But he has another dream as well, to generate excitement for track and field in Japan, and elevate it to world level. One step toward realizing this goal is the “Sani Brown Speed Trials,” an event to nurture the next generation of short-distance runners. Sani Brown met and worked with the young athletes following in his wake, conveying the joy of running and a mindset for playing an active role in the world in a way that only a currently active athlete can.
“Being a bridge between children and the world.”
A top athlete’s thoughts on nurturing the next generation
Young athletes meet the “World-famous Sani Brown”
On September 30, 2023, about 100 children of elementary school to high school age gathered at Yumenoshima Stadium in Koto-ku, Tokyo. It was just after the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, where Sani Brown had finished sixth, and organizers were inundated with applications from young people in Tokyo and throughout Japan eager to meet the famous athlete. On the day of the event, enthusiastic applause and cheers erupted as Sani Brown appeared on the field. Excitement swept through the venue.
The day started with the main event, a time trial. Elementary school students ran a 50-meter course, and junior high and high school students a 100-meter course, to determine the first place in each age group. The winners from each group will receive special support for one year. Watching the races from the media booth, Sani Brown cheered on the runners while reflecting on his school days, commenting on how good their form is compared to him at that age, and how the high school students are so physically developed and run with powerful strides.
During the talk session that followed, Sani Brown took questions directly from the children, ranging from specific advice on how to run faster, such as “When you run 100 meters, what do you focus on in the second half?” and “I'm not good at starting, so is there anything I should keep in mind?” to the competitor mindset such as “How do you break out of a slump?”. Sani Brown answered each of them with a smile.
Aspiration makes dreams grow stronger
How did the young people react to this event that Sani Brown was so passionate about? We asked the participants what they thought.
First, the winners of the elementary school, junior high school, and high school divisions, who will receive online advice from Sani Brown and other types of support going forward.
Misaki Imamura (Winner, Elementary School Division)
“I applied for this event because I had seen Sani Brown on TV and admired him. I didn't think I would be able to win the race, so I was very happy! I will continue to compete in short-distance events, and hope to make the top three in the national junior high school competition.”
Taiga Saito (Winner, Junior High School Division)
“Sani Brown is really cool, and I want to train more and get bigger like him. My problem is that my speed drops in the second half, so I’d love to get some advice next time.”
Ryohei Sugano (Winner, High School Division)
“Today is just an event, so the atmosphere is different from an official competition. I didn’t feel nervous, and I was able to enjoy running. My dream is to gain more experience and improve my running ability, and in the future compete in relays for Japan where I pass the baton to Sani Brown.”
Another memorable part of that day was the sight of children from various backgrounds, running shoulder to shoulder regardless of region, gender, or disability. Recently, there has been an increase in the number of competitions explicitly for para-athletes, but it is only at events like this where a diverse group of children, connected by their shared love of running, can enjoy together.
Haruta Saito, a runner with an above-knee prosthesis, also competed in the high school division, running alongside able-bodied althletes. He attends a high school with a strong track and field record that is also Sani Brown’s alma mater. Haruta trains hard every day, and says that it was a great inspiration to meet the alumnus he so admired.
Haruta Saito
“It was so impressive to see him in person. During the talk session, the advice he had about points to remember at the start, and how to focus during the second half, were really helpful. He also said that we should get enough sleep, so that is advice I plan to follow. My dream is to compete in the world championships like Sani Brown.”
Giving children opportunities and options
Sani Brown has a sense of mission to nurture the next generation, and actively gets involved with events for young people. He is driven by the feelings he had as an athlete during his experiences of the past few years, including moving overseas, the coronavirus pandemic, and participating in the Olympics. In a presentation after the event, he talked about his background and prospects for the future.
Sani Brown:
“When I went to live in the U.S., it made me rethink the status of track and field in Japan. Team sports such as soccer and baseball generate excitement and bring people together as a nation, and compared to that, track and field lags behind. In 2021, I competed in the Tokyo Olympics, but unfortunately because of the pandemic, it was a closed match without any spectators. That experience taught me that the cheering of the crowd is what sports is all about. It makes me feel grateful to the fans and those who support me, and I have a strong desire to give back. Success in competition is one way to give back, of course, but I think that there are other things I can do for society apart from competing as well. One such thing is getting involved with the development of children. I would like to expand the number of events like this one today, and provide a range of opportunities and options for the children who will lead the next generation.”
As a competing athlete in the midst of his career constantly striving for self-improvement, taking part in projects such as this must be difficult. Nevertheless, Sani Brown is unwavering in his determination.
“Precisely because I am actively competing, I think there are things that I can do and that have meaning. I am very inspired by interacting with children in events like this, and it makes me want to work even harder. Since I started competing overseas, I’ve gained a broader perspective on the world. That's why I want to support children seeking success in the world, and be a bridge to help lead them to a great future.”
Sani Brown’s desire to nurture the next generation overlaps with that of his global partner Toray. We are also actively engaged in educational activities to support the next generation. We utilize our expertise gained through the development of innovative technologies and advanced materials to provide special on-site lessons and teaching materials that help spark children’s interest in science. Each summer Toray holds the Aozora Science School for elementary school students where they camp in a nature area, and conduct various experiments and fieldwork that nurture their interest and curiosity about science and nature. At the Aozora Science School in the summer of 2023, Sani Brown sent a video message expressing his desire to “create opportunities to get involved with children.” Toray shares his passion for nurturing the next generation, and supported the Sani Brown Speed Trials through sponsorship. Toray will continue to work with Sani Brown to educate and nurture the next generation together.
