Valerie Jerome’s grandfather John “Army” Howard was Canada’s first Black Olympian, and her brother Harry Jerome was one of the most recognizable Black athletes of the 1960s. He set a total of seven world records, earning him the title of the world's fastest man, and competed at three Summer Olympics, including Tokyo in 1964 where he won bronze in the 100m.

Valerie herself became Canadian senior women’s champion in the sprints and long jump at the age of 15 and went on to represent Canada at the 1960 Rome Olympics.

In her memoir Races: The Trials and Triumphs of Canada’s Fastest Family, Valerie gives the inside track on her family’s remarkable history, and the racism that they fought along the way – from their community, the press, their country, and even within their home.

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