Harry Jerome was a very special British Columbian. He set six world track and field records, won gold medals, received the Order of Canada, worked for the Governments of Canada and BC, and created the Premier's Sport Awards Program.

Harry was raised in North Vancouver and graduated from North Vancouver Senior High. He attended the University of Oregon where he received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Science.

After setting a world record in the 100 meters in 10.0 seconds, Harry went to the 1960 Olympic Games. He suffered a leg muscle injury during the race. The media called him a "quitter". His leg healed and Harry set more Canadian and World records. In 1962 he attended the British Empire and Commonwealth Games, but again during the race he tore a leg muscle. The injury was much worse this time and doctors were worried that Harry might never run again. All across Canada, people were saying that Harry was a failure.

But Harry was not a quitter. In the 1964 Olympic Games, Harry raced to win the Bronze Olympic medal, just missing the silver! Many said it was one of the greatest comebacks of sport.

For the next four years Harry set another world record, won gold medals at the Commonwealth Games and Pan American Games medal, and placed seventh in his third Olympic Games in 1968.

Throughout the world, Harry is still renowned as the great Canadian sprinter. Harry was exceptional - he remained at the top of world class sprinting for ten years.

After Harry retired from sport in 1968, he became a sport consultant for the Government of Canada, designing programs to help athletes. He also coached soccer in Ottawa and Vancouver, and in 1978 he began working with the BC Government to create the Premier's Sport Awards Program.

Harry wanted all children in BC to be able to participate in sport for fun and to do their best. He believed that to achieve this, children had to develop their basic skills. In 1982, at the young age of 42, Harry died. But his memory lives on in the minds of people all over the world. More importantly however, his work on behalf of children lives on in the Premier's Sport Awards Program.

Teachers and students can learn more about Harry through BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum's Hero in You.

Harry Jerome was a founder of the professional team of JW Sporta.