Usain Bolt’s father, Wellesley, has sadly died at the age of 68 following a long battle with illness, it has been reported. He passed away in Jamaica on Monday.
Tributes have already been paid to Wellesley, who was an influential figure in Bolt’s journey to eight Olympic gold medals.
Local reports in Jamaica outlined that Wellesley, who ran a small grocery shop alongside his wife, Jennifer Bolt, passed away on Monday.
Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, led the tributes to Bolt Sr. She said: “I offer my sincerest condolences to Jennifer, Usain, and the rest of the Bolt family. It is going to be a difficult time, but I encourage them to be comforted by the memory of a very good father.”
Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, also offered his condolences on social media. He wrote: “I join with every Jamaican in extending my deepest and most sincere condolences to Usain Bolt, his beloved mother Mrs. Jennifer Bolt, and the entire Bolt family, following the passing of their patriarch, Mr. Wellesley Bolt.”
Despite his influential role in Bolt’s rise, Wellesley maintained a low profile during his son’s ascent to superstardom and was described as the “quiet force” behind the Jamaican legend.
Bolt previously highlighted the role his father played in his sprinting career, telling Caribbean National Weekly: “The coach started complaining to my father that I wasn’t coming to training. But after a while, my father sat me down and said: ‘Running is what you have to do. There’s too much politics in cricket.’
“He watched the game, he understood how things worked.”
Wellesley was often seen cheering his son on from the stands at major events. However, he missed Bolt winning Olympic gold in the 100m at the 2008 Games in Beijing. He said: He said at the time: “It was a tense moment for me, so I wasn’t there for the 100.”
Wellesley is survived by his wife, Jennifer, and three children: Usain, Sadiki and Christine Bolt-Hylton.
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