Two of the world’s best female sprinters, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson-Herah have praised former coach Stephen Francis for his role in shaping their careers.
Francis, a world-renowned coach and co-founder and former head coach of the MVP Track and Field Club, passed away on Saturday at the age of 64 after a brief illness.
Fraser-Pryce joined the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech)-based MVP in 2006, where she stayed for 14 years before leaving in 2020.
Under Francis’ tutelage, she captured Olympic gold in the 100m in 2012, and won world titles in 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2019.
The now 39-year-old Fraser-Pryce, who retired at the World Championships last year, credited Francis for much of her achievements.