Track Record: From Sprint Star To Pop Star

Elena Brown (54) Is A Russian-born, Auckland-based Athletics Coach Turned Musician.

- Steve Landells

“I was born in the city of Novosibirsk in Siberia, the daughter of two Russian athletes. My father was a former Soviet 100-metre champion and my mother won Russian pentathlon titles.

I definitely inherited my talent from my father and from the age of 10, I was already a sprint star. I later moved to Moscow and, thanks to my sporting talent, became one of the youngest people in the Soviet Union to be given a flat by the government.

In the early 1990s, I won World and European 4x100m silver medals, but partly because of injuries, I don’t think I truly fulfilled my athletics potential. I always thought I might make the Olympic podium.

From a young age, I could always identify the technical errors athletes were making, even though back then I was not a coach. I would often advise other athletes how they could run better. Once my career finished, it was only natural I moved into coaching.

I first visited New Zealand in 1997, arriving in Auckland with my ex-husband to spend some time with his sister. It’s hard to explain, but after just a few days in Auckland, it was like I belonged in New Zealand.

After spending some time living between Moscow and Auckland, I felt it was right to permanently settle here.