Valerie Jerome facts for kids
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
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| Born | 28 April 1944 Saint Boniface, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
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| Sport | Sprinting | |||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 100 metres | |||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Valerie Jerome (born 28 April 1944) is a Canadian athlete, educator, and activist. She was a talented sprinter in track and field. Valerie competed in the 1960 Summer Olympics in the 100-metre race. She also won a bronze medal in the 4x100 metres relay at the 1959 Pan American Games. Valerie is the only Canadian athlete to compete in five track and field events at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, or Pan-American Games. She is the sister of famous Canadian sprinter Harry Jerome. Her grandfather was John "Army" Howard, who was also an Olympian.
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Valerie Jerome's Early Life
Valerie Jerome was born in Saint Boniface, Winnipeg, Manitoba, on April 28, 1944. She was the third child of Harry Vincent Jerome and Elsie Jerome. Her brother, Harry Jerome, became a very famous Canadian sprinter. Her other siblings are Carolyn and Barton. Valerie's grandfather, John Howard, was an Olympian who ran for Canada in the 1912 Summer Olympics. He was the first Black Canadian to compete in the 100m and 200m races at the Olympics.
After a big flood in Winnipeg in 1950, Valerie's family moved to North Vancouver. This move was hard for them because they faced racism. Some people in the community tried to stop the family from moving into their new house. They even threw rocks at the Jerome children on their first day of school. Valerie's father had to speak up for his children's right to go to school. The family later moved again, but they still experienced racism.
Valerie Jerome's Athletic Journey
Track and Field Success
Valerie Jerome became well-known at just 15 years old. This was after her amazing performance at the 1959 Canadian Championships. She was the only Black female athlete on the track. Valerie won gold medals in the 60-metre, 80-metre, and 4x100-metre relay races. She also won the long jump and placed third in the high jump.
Pan-American Games in 1959
Valerie competed in the 1959 Pan-American Games in Chicago, USA. She earned a bronze medal in the 4 × 100 m relay. Her teammates were Sally McCallum, Maureen Rever, and Heather Campbell. Valerie also finished seventh in the long jump event.
1960 Summer Olympics
Valerie Jerome represented Canada at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy. Her brother, Harry, also competed there. Valerie raced in the 4 × 100 m relay and the 100m dash.
Continuing in Athletics
After she stopped competing, Valerie still helped the sports community. She worked for 35 years as a track and field official. She was even the chief judge for long jump and triple jump at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. She also officiated at other major events like the World Championships and Commonwealth Games.
Olympic Torchbearer
Valerie Jerome was chosen to be a torchbearer for the 2010 Winter Olympics. This was a special honor.
Valerie Jerome's Life After Sports
Becoming an Educator
Valerie graduated from the University of British Columbia in 1976. She earned a Bachelor of Education degree. After that, she worked as a teacher for 35 years. She also led a successful effort to create a special program for Black Canadian studies at Dalhousie University.
Jerome Outreach Society
Valerie helped start the Jerome Outreach Society. This group hires coaches for schools in low-income areas of Vancouver. These coaches teach sports like basketball, track and field, soccer, and ultimate frisbee. The coaching is free for the schools and students. Since 2007, over 2000 kids have taken part in these programs.
Valerie also helps with an athletic club for inner-city children. This club is named after her brother, Harry. She also supports the Harry Jerome International Track Classic event.
Political Involvement
Valerie Jerome cares a lot about the environment. She has supported green spaces and sustainability. Between 1985 and 2000, Valerie ran in seven elections for the Green Party. She ran at the federal, provincial, and city levels. Her son, Stuart Parker, was the leader of the Green Party of British Columbia from 1993 to 2000.
Community Contributions
Valerie has volunteered for many years with the Vancouver Writers Festival. She has also helped the BC Cancer Agency raise money. Currently, she is on the board of directors for the Vancouver Junior Professional Division Society.
