Vernon Norwood recalls a rough childhood with a single mother, three older brothers and a father who he said “wasn’t much around.”He was born and raised in New Orleans, but his family moved away after Hurricane Katrina. “I was arrested many times,” he said. “Obviously, I was sent away in juvenile detention center — drugs, you know, not going to school, stealing, just juvenile delinquent things. The route that I was on my way to, it could have had me in jail or probably dead.”One day, he noticed how his actions were breaking his mother’s heart, and he decided to channel his energy into sports.He joined the basketball and track teams, just for fun, but his rare talent caught the eye of coach Dennis Shaver of Louisiana State University. He would train and go on to win three gold medals in the world championships, a gold in the world indoor championships and a gold medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games.”The thing about Vernon too, he has all those intangibles that you can’t coach and those are the things that make him so great. The inspiration he has for everyone who surround him everybody looks up to him,” said Shaver.Vernon said he is happy to make his mom and his country proud with his gold medal. He hopes his story can inspire today’s youth and wants them to run towards a goal.”I came from the same place you came from, single parent, no guidance. But I hope at the end if this interview that I could really touch somebody and help them. God had a bigger plan for me, and he has a plan for you too,” said Norwood. Watch the video above to learn more about Norwood’s story.
Vernon Norwood recalls a rough childhood with a single mother, three older brothers and a father who he said “wasn’t much around.”
He was born and raised in New Orleans, but his family moved away after Hurricane Katrina.
“I was arrested many times,” he said. “Obviously, I was sent away in juvenile detention center — drugs, you know, not going to school, stealing, just juvenile delinquent things. The route that I was on my way to, it could have had me in jail or probably dead.”
One day, he noticed how his actions were breaking his mother’s heart, and he decided to channel his energy into sports.
He joined the basketball and track teams, just for fun, but his rare talent caught the eye of coach Dennis Shaver of Louisiana State University. He would train and go on to win three gold medals in the world championships, a gold in the world indoor championships and a gold medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games.
“The thing about Vernon too, he has all those intangibles that you can’t coach and those are the things that make him so great. The inspiration he has for everyone who surround him everybody looks up to him,” said Shaver.
Vernon said he is happy to make his mom and his country proud with his gold medal. He hopes his story can inspire today’s youth and wants them to run towards a goal.
“I came from the same place you came from, single parent, no guidance. But I hope at the end if this interview that I could really touch somebody and help them. God had a bigger plan for me, and he has a plan for you too,” said Norwood.
Watch the video above to learn more about Norwood’s story.
