Jamaica’s track and field community is mourning the loss of legendary sprint coach and MVP Track Club co-founder Stephen Francis, who died late Saturday at the age of 64.
Francis, who had reportedly been battling illness, passed away just two days after celebrating his 64th birthday.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest sprint coaches in the history of athletics, Francis transformed Jamaican track and field through his pioneering coaching methods and unwavering belief that the nation’s athletes could achieve world-class success while training at home.
In 1999, he co-founded the MVP (Maximising Velocity and Power) Track Club, which grew into one of the world’s premier sprint training programmes. Under his guidance, the club produced numerous Olympic and World Championship medallists, helping cement Jamaica’s reputation as a global sprinting powerhouse.
Among the stars coached by Francis were Olympic champions Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson-Herah, Asafa Powell, Shericka Jackson, and Kishane Thompson, along with many other elite athletes who excelled on the international stage.
Tributes have begun pouring in from across Jamaica and the global athletics community, with many remembering Francis not only for his remarkable success on the track but also for his dedication to developing generations of athletes.
His legacy is expected to endure through the countless athletes he mentored and the lasting impact he had on Jamaican and international track and field.
