Anavia Battle’s name is synonymous with speed. Her journey began as a middle school phenom in Inkster, Michigan. By 2021, she stunned the track world with a 21.95-second 200-meter dash at the U.S. Olympic Trials. That blistering time would’ve clinched bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics. With performances like these, Battle has solidified her reputation as one of America’s most electrifying sprinters. Her journey to the Tokyo Olympics, where she represented Team USA, was a testament to raw talent and relentless drive.  

Yet Battle’s path hasn’t been without hurdles. The COVID-19 pandemic derailed her momentum in 2020, canceling her shot at an indoor national title. Injuries plagued her senior collegiate season—nagging back pain and hamstring issues left her mentally drained and questioning her capabilities. “I wasn’t able to be the best Anavia I could be,” she admitted after a disappointing third-place finish at the 2021 NCAA Championships. Even after turning pro, setbacks followed. In 2025, she stunned Jamaican legend Shericka Jackson at the Diamond League opener in Xiamen, only to face mounting pressure as a rising contender in a field of seasoned champions. Through it all, one constant has been Joel Brown, the man who’s guided her from collegiate star to Olympic hopeful. So, here is everything you need to know about Joel, her mentor, strategist, and confidant.

Meet Anavia Battle’s Coach Joel Brown

Joel Brown isn’t just a coach—he’s a track lifer. A former Ohio State hurdling legend turned Adidas-sponsored pro, Brown knows what it takes to thrive on the biggest stages. As an athlete, he was a three-time All-American, a World Championships finalist, and part of a world-record shuttle hurdle relay team. But his true legacy began when he traded spikes for a clipboard. After nine years as a volunteer assistant at Ohio State, Brown became a full-time coach in 2014, shaping sprinters and hurdlers into champions with a blend of technical precision and psychological grit.

His coaching style is, as Battle once described him, the voice that “pushed me when I doubted myself.” Whether it’s rebuilding confidence after a loss or fine-tuning race strategy, Brown’s approach is deeply personal. “We manage the body until it’s ready to perform,” he said during Battle’s rocky 2021 season, emphasizing patience and trust in the process.

Joel Brown’s Career Highlights and Achievements

Brown’s résumé reads like a track enthusiast’s dream:

• 9 Big Ten team titles as a coach, including Ohio State’s first men’s championships in 25 years.
• Developed 19 All-Americans, including two-time NCAA champion Christina Manning and sprint prodigy Nick Gray, who smashed Big Ten records under his guidance.
• 2024 USTFCCCA Great Lakes Region Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year after leading Ohio State sprinters to dominate the 100m, 200m, and relays at the Big Ten Championships.
• Architect of record-breaking relays, including the 4x400m squad that became Ohio State’s first First-Team All-Americans in the event.

But Brown’s proudest achievement? Turning raw talent into polished stars. Take Battle: under his watch, she became a three-time Big Ten champion, shattered school records, and evolved from a self-doubting sophomore to an Olympian.

How Joel Brown Has Shaped Anavia Battle’s Sprinting Career

When Battle arrived at Ohio State in 2017, she was a diamond in the rough. She was a high school state champion with untapped potential. Brown saw her ceiling immediately. “She’s the most talented athlete I’ve coached,” he said, comparing her work ethic to her older brother, a former state record holder. Their partnership hit turbulence during the pandemic and Battle’s injury-riddled senior year, but Brown’s steady hand kept her on track.

On the technical side, Brown revamped her approach to racing. Battle’s early performances often featured fiery starts but struggled to maintain momentum—a flaw Brown tackled by working tirelessly on her pacing strategies and acceleration techniques. Through meticulous stride adjustments and rhythm drills, he helped her squeeze out critical milliseconds that separated good races from great ones. Emotionally, Brown steadied her mindset when the stakes were highest.

Following her crushing NCAA finish, he prioritized building her self-belief and competitive edge. In the lead-up to the Olympic Trials, he doubled down on one message: “You belong here.” The payoff? Battle clocked a career-defining time and secured her spot on the U.S. Olympic team—proof that Brown’s blend of technical mastery and mental reinforcement was a winning formula.

Their bond extends beyond the track. Brown encouraged Battle to embrace setbacks as growth opportunities. It is a lesson he learned during his own career battling injuries and elite competition. “Trust yourself,” he’d tell her, a mantra that’s become central to her resilience.

As Battle gears up for the 2025 season, all eyes are on her next moves. Fresh off her upset win over Shericka Jackson, she’s poised to challenge for medals at September’s World Championships. Brown, ever the strategist, is already plotting their course. “She has everything to gain,” he said, hinting at a focus on refining her starts and endurance for longer meets.

For Brown, the goal remains unchanged: to mold Battle into not just a champion, but a legacy. And if their track record is any indication, this coach-athlete duo is far from finished making history.

So, next time you watch Battle blaze down the straightaway, remember: it’s not just her speed lighting up the track—it’s years of trust, tweaks, and Joel Brown’s unwavering belief in what “could be.”