Black History 365: Jerome Avery
Name: Jerome Avery
Sport: Track and Field
Discipline(s): Track and Field
Event(s): 100m, 200m
Classification: Guide Runner
Height: 5-9
Weight: 170
DOB: 12/22/1978
Birthplace: Lemoore, Calif.
Hometown: Lemoore, Calif.
High School: Lemoore High School (Lemoore, Calif.) ‘97
College: Fresno City College ‘01, Kinesiology (Associates)
Paralympic Experience
- Four-time Paralympian (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016); Three-time Paralympic medalist guide runner (2 gold, 1 silver)
- Paralympic Games Rio 2016, gold (100m – David Brown)
- Paralympic Games London 2012, 12th (200m – Josiah Jamison)
- Paralympic Games Beijing 2008, gold (100m – Josiah Jamison)
- Paralympic Games Athens 2004, silver (Long jump – Lex Gillette)
World Championship Experience
- Most recent: 2019 – semifinals (100m – David Brown)
- Years of Participation: 2006, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019
- Medals: 6 (3 gold, 3 silver)
- Gold – 2017 (100m – David Brown), 2015 (100m – David Brown), 2006 (100m – Josiah Jamison)
- Silver – 2017 (200m – David Brown), 2013 (4x100m relay – Josiah Jamison), 2006 (Long jump – Lex Gillette)
Personal: Jerome Avery has been a guide runner with U.S. Paralympics Track & Field since 2004, guiding Paralympians such as Lex Gillette, Josiah Jamison and David Brown. He is currently the guide for Paralympic champion and world record holder David Brown, nicknaming themselves “Team BrAvery”. An Olympic hopeful himself, Avery finished in the top 20 in the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials and in the top 15 in the 2004 Olympic Trials. In high school, Avery was his school’s MVP all four years, and he was ranked fifth in the state of California in the 100-meters. He competed two years at Fresno City College before training at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Center (CVEATC) under Brooks Johnson. Bound by a tether, Avery and Brown sprint in lanes side-by-side, communicating by touch and sound with every synched stride as Avery tugs the tether to keep Brown in line to reach the finish line. They train at the CVEATC where they are coached by Brazilian Olympic middle distance champion Joaquim Cruz…Son of Bonnie and Jerome Avery…Has four siblings, Dominque, Jacques, Jaelin and Zonyea…His hobbies include shopping, watching movies, running, relaxing, beach, fishing, making music and dancing.
https://www.teamusa.org/para-track-and-field/athletes/Jerome-Avery