Olympian Joel Fearon writes children's book

Olympic sprinter and bobsledder Joel Fearon has written a children's book, hoping to inspire young readers with his own life story.

Coventry‑born Fearon, who won bronze in the four‑man bobsleigh at the Winter Olympics in 2014, said Just Be Brave is rooted in real experiences that shaped him, in his journey from a challenging childhood to becoming one of the world's fastest athletes.

Fearon said the book was written to help children understand that courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision to keep going.

"If even one child reads these stories and finds the courage to believe in themselves a little more, then it's all worth it," he said.

Fearon said writing the book "was a joy", after visiting schools across the UK inspired him to create something lasting for young people.

It follows a young boy learning that bravery is not about being fearless, but about choosing to keep moving forward.

"To take lessons about courage, fear, belief, resilience and adventure and turn them into stories that can encourage the next generation to dream big means everything to me," Fearon told the BBC.

The 37-year-old has spoken openly about growing up with dyslexia and ADHD, describing school as "challenging", and sport as the place where he first felt valued.

"When people started saying 'well done', I wanted more," he said. "Being brave is a big part of who I am, finding the courage to go out and do things, even when they scare you."

Before becoming a world‑class sprinter, running under 10 seconds in the 100 metres, Fearon had already taken up bobsleigh, a sport he says taught him discipline, resilience and belief.

He later switched national allegiance to Jamaica, the country of his parents' heritage, and returned to the sport after the tragic murder of his sister in 2023.

Fearon also revealed that rapper Snoop Dogg, who met the Jamaican bobsleigh team during this year's Winter Olympics, is set to "cover their sleds next year", jokingly referring to them as 'SnoopSleds'.

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