Few athletes have been able to accomplish what Jonathan Brown achieved during a nine-year period. When he matriculated at the University in the fall of 1987, he had never rowed before. Nine years later, in 1996, he was the first Terrier rower ever to sit in the heavyweight eights at the Olympics, as he and eight teammates finished fifth at the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta.
"Jonathan was a true walk-on with our program." said then-head coach Rodney Pratt, who coached Brown during his senior year in 1991. "But he had excellent size, the right physiology, coordination and attitude to be an excellent rower."
Jonathan enjoyed outstanding success during his collegiate career. His freshman boat advanced to the finals of both the Eastern Sprints and IRA national championships. In 1988, he was in the varsity eights that advanced to the IRA finals.
Rather than throw in the oar after graduation, he continued rowing.
In 1991, he was in the boat that won the Men's Championship Eights at the Head of the Charles. In 1992, He narrowly missed making the U.S. Olympic Team but he rowed in the boat that won the Head of the Charles in record time. In 1993, he became the first BU oarsman to row in the National Team Eight Oared shell. That boat won a bronze medal at the World Championships. In 1994, he was in the boat that won the World Championships in record time. In 1995, he won the Gold Medals at the Pan Am Games in the eights and fours. Then, in 1996, he rowed in the Olympics.
"He has been willing to go through the adversity necessary to row at the international level," said Pratt.
