Athletics

We are proud of all these athletes for representing Haiti on the world stage. They are making history, dominating and some are the first to represent Haiti in their respective sports. All customized portraits were created by our talented artist Romulus Dieuseul to honor and seal these moments in history. 

 

Lynnzee Ellise Brown

Brown made history as the first artistic gymnast to represent Haiti in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Lynnzee Brown is a Haitian-American artistic gymnast and gymnastics coach, born September 9, 1988. Following a successful Level 10 career, she attended the University of Denver on a full-ride scholarship, representing the Denver Pioneers gymnastics team from 2018 to 2023. During her six-year collegiate career, she was the 2019 NCAA floor exercise co-champion, the 2023 NCAA vault co-silver medalist, a four-time Big 12 Conference champion, a 2021 Honda Sports Award, and a 2023 Honda Inspiration Award finalist.

Brown began representing Haiti internationally in 2023 following her graduation from Denver. Her international debut came at the 2023 Pan American Artistic Gymnastics Championships where she placed 15th in the all-around. She then qualified for the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, placing 82nd. Read more about Lynnzee Ellise Brown.

 

 

 

Jason Andrew Pierre-Paul 

Pierre-Paul was born January 1. 1989 in Deerfield Beach, Florida, to Haitian immigrants Jean and Marie, who arrived in the United States in 1983. At Deerfield Beach High School, Pierre-Paul lettered in basketball for four years. After a serious leg injury while playing basketball, he started playing football in his junior year. He played college football for the South Florida Bulls and was selected by the New York Giants in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft. With the Giants, Pierre-Paul made two Pro Bowls, was first-team All-Pro, and won Super Bowl XLVI in 2012. With the Buccaneers, Pierre-Paul made his third Pro Bowl and won Super Bowl LV in 2021. Read more about Jason Pierre-Paul.

 

 

 

 

Sony Michel

Michel was born February 17, 1995 in Hollywood Florida. Michel's parents emigrated from Haiti. Michel attended American Heritage School in Plantation, Florida. Michel was the starting running back for the American Heritage Patriots, beginning in his eighth-grade year there. As a senior, he rushed for 1,833 yards and 24 touchdowns. Over three years playing on varsity, he rushed for 4,758 yards and 63 touchdowns. He was rated by Rivals.com as a five-star recruit and was ranked as the third-best running back and 13th-best player overall. Michel committed to the University of Georgia on April 26, 2013, to play college football. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for five seasons. He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs and was selected by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft. During his first three seasons with the Patriots, he was a member of the team that won Super Bowl LIII. Michel spent his next season with Los Angeles Rams in 2021, winning Super Bowl LVI, and his final season with the Los Angeles Chargers. Read more about Sony Michel.

 

 

 

Naomy Grand’Pierre

A Name to Remember. Haiti’s trailblazing swimmer who made waves (pun intended) in the Olympic world as the first woman from Haiti to compete as a Swimmer in the Olympics. Imagine the pride she felt, representing her country on that global stage! She competed in the women's 50 metre freestyle event at the 2016 Summer Olympics, where she ranked 56th with a time of 27.46 seconds.

At just 23 years old, Naomy Grand’Pierre has achieved remarkable milestones. Grand'Pierre was born in Montreal, and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, she is a dual US-Haitian citizen. She is a graduate of Whitefield Academy (Georgia) and the University of Chicago (Class of 2019). and collaborated with the USA Swimming Diversity and Inclusion Committee during her college years. She is currently helping the Haitian National Swim Team, in collaboration with the FHSA (Haitian Swimming Federation), structure their program to give Haitians in Haiti and the Diaspora more access to the sport. Read more about Naomy Grand'Pierre.

 

 

 

Emilie Grand’Pierre

Another inspiring athlete from the Grand’Pierre family. Emilie Faith Grand’Pierre was born on May 3, 2001, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. She holds dual citizenship with Haiti and the United States, much like her sister Naomy. Emilie competed in the women’s 100-meter breaststroke at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. She finished with a time of 1:14.82, showcasing her talent on the global stage. Emilie attended Bowdoin College, where she was a member of the college swim team. Her time at Bowdoin helped her develop further as an athlete and prepared her for international competitions. Emilie is the younger sister of Naomy Grand’Pierre, who also made history as a swimmer for Haiti. The Grand’Pierre sisters are known for their dedication to swimming and their efforts to promote the sport within the Haitian community. By competing in the Olympics, Emilie not only represented Haiti but also contributed to breaking stereotypes and promoting positive representation of Haitian athletes on the world stage. Emilie’s journey is a testament to hard work, dedication, and the importance of representation in sports. Read more about Emilie Grand'Pierre.

 

 

 

Naomy and Emilie Grand'Pierre - Beautiful Sisters and Powerhouse Haitian Swimmers.