Aaron Kingsley Brown

Thank you Coach ‘Papa’ Bill Stephens 🕊️

I’ve tried many times to think of the right words that accurately sum up what you meant to me, but I kept coming back to 2:

Thank You

Thank you for convincing a young 16 year old kid to not spend another summer running around the city chasing girls and trouble; but to instead join the Phoenix Athletics track club and commit to the sport that would change my life forever

Thank you for showing me what I was capable of if I were to ever take track & field seriously and stop skipping the workouts that had too much running in them

Thank you for coaching me to triple gold at OFSAA in 2008; a U18 World Youth 100m silver medal in 2009; and a U20 World Junior 200m bronze medal in 2010 after tearing my hamstring - amongst our many other accomplishments together

Thank you for giving me the dream of getting a full ride scholarship to a major D1 school in America and believing in my potential before I even knew what the NCAA was

Thank you for all the support that you gave to all the young track and field Birchmount and Phoenix Athletics kids that you mentored, looked out for, and coached and provided with a space to be themselves and develop into young adults

You were more than just my high school club coach to me. If it wasn’t for you, I would not be where I am today and so, I owe it all to you. I am but a small part in the legacy that you’ve left in the community after dedicating your life to the sport for decades

I’ve never been good at saying goodbye, so instead I simply say Thank you. For everything. You may be gone, but I promise you will never be forgotten. Say what’s up to Andre for me

Rest easy Bill 🕊️

First stop on the European tour is at the Grand Prix Brescia in 🇮🇹

100m tomorrow at 3:40pm local/9:40am EST ⏰

Time to STEP 🔥

Daddy - Daughter day at the Oval Office 💼 👨🏾👧🏾

READY?

SET?

STEP 🚀

The final stretch 🛠️

Locked in 🔒

“When opportunity comes, it’s too late to prepare” 💡- John Wooden

Stay Ready 🔥

One STEP from losing it but the silver lining turned out to be SILVER 🥈

📸: Peter Simmons

Never a dull moment on the track 💯 Thank you Glasgow 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

It’s always a movie when I link up with the gang 🇨🇦🥈

📸: Yonathan Kellerman 🇨🇦🇫🇷 Peter Simmons