It may seem like Eric Brown II x’19 took the road well-traveled for a college athlete: he developed a passion for his sport as early as age seven, set records in high school, and followed in his father’s footsteps. Eric Brown Sr. x’93 also ran track for UW–Madison.
But the road for Brown — who placed seventh in the 800-meter run at the Big Ten Championships last season — wasn’t always smooth. He was bullied in grade school due to a stutter, high-pitched voice, and skinny frame. He remembers his class erupting in laughter as he read aloud, bringing him to tears. And he can recite a profane song that his peers created about him. He transferred schools.
Brown then responded in three ways: he tirelessly practiced reading at home, he prayed to be “normal,” and he ran.