Stephen Francis (© Getty Images)
World Athletics is deeply saddened to hear that world-renowned Jamaican sprint coach Stephen Francis died on Saturday (4) at the age of 64.
Francis dedicated his life to the development of athletics in Jamaica, helping to guide stars such as Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Asafa Powell and Shericka Jackson to multiple Olympic and world medals.
After earning a BSC in management studies from the University of the West Indies and an MBA in finance from the University of Michigan, Francis decided to go into full-time coaching and co-founded the MVP (Maximising Velocity & Power) Track & Field Club in 1999.
Based in Kingston, the club’s aim was to prove that Jamaican athletes, with Jamaican coaches, Jamaican facilities and Jamaican management, could be the best in the world.
Francis – the MVP Track & Field Club’s Technical Director – was known as a master for identifying talent. As well as 13-time global gold medallist Fraser-Pryce, two-time world 200m champion Jackson and former 100m world record-holder Powell, the MVP Track & Field Club has coached numerous other global medallists such as Elaine Thompson-Herah, Michael Frater, Sherone Simpson, Kishane Thompson and Tina and Tia Clayton.
Francis was awarded the Order of Jamaica in 2017 in recognition of his work.
“Stephen was a visionary coach, mentor and leader whose unwavering commitment to excellence transformed the landscape of athletics in Jamaica and inspired generations of athletes,” said the MVP Track & Field Club in a statement. “His exceptional ability to develop talent, combined with his relentless pursuit of excellence and deep belief in the potential of those he coached, helped shape the careers of Olympic and World Championship medal winners, world record-breakers, and numerous other athletes, while establishing a standard of coaching that earned worldwide respect.”
MVP Track & Field Club President Bruce James said: “Stephen Francis changed the trajectory of Jamaican athletics for the better. He proved that Jamaican athletes, guided by Jamaican coaches, supported by Jamaican management, and training in Jamaica, could become the very best in the world.
“His vision, uncompromising pursuit of excellence, and belief in the potential of our athletes transformed not only countless individual careers, but also the standing of Jamaican athletics on the global stage. His legacy will endure for generations.”
Fraser-Pryce was also among those to pay tribute to Francis. “Today, Jamaica has lost more than one of its greatest athletics coaches. We have lost a visionary, a mentor, and a man whose influence transcended the track,” reads part of a statement shared on Instagram.
“He was not only my coach but a steady source of guidance during some of the most defining moments of my career. Coach Francis helped shaped an era that forever changed Jamaican athletics. Through his leadership, countless athletes rose to world and Olympic success, inspiring generations of young Jamaicans to believe that greatness could be achieved on Jamaican soil.
“His legacy is etched into every medal won, every record broken, and every young Jamaican athlete who dares to dream.”
World Athletics