A number of Olympic and World Championship medallists who were coached by the late Stephen Francis continue to extol the virtues of the man simply known to them as Franno.
Nationwide Sports caught up with some of them at his funeral on Saturday at the National Indoor Sports Centre as the country said it’s last goodbye to the larger than life figure.
Former World Champion Brigitte Foster Hylton and former world 100m record holder Asafa Powell were the two athletes who really set the MVP Club in motion during it’s infancy stage, before Powell in particular brought global recognition to Francis when he broke the World 100m record in 2005.
And so on Saturday both now former athletes during their tributes at the Thanks Giving Service, reflected on how they were discovered by Francis and the moment they first walked through the gates of the Club at the University of Technology.
When Nationwide Sports Caught up with them at the end of Saturday’s Service, they were both still trying to come to terms with the loss.
Foster Hylton was one of three persons who last saw Francis alive having taken up positions by his bedside at the hospital in the days leading up to his unfortunate passing.
Powell, who was overcome by emotions during his tribute, says news of Francis’ death rendered his speechless in the days following.
Elaine Thompson Herah was plucked from virtual obscurity by Francis and made into the Fastest woman alive and the second quickest all time.
She’s also the only woman to win the 100-200m double at successive Olympic games, and she told Nationwide Sports that she never imagined Francis would die before she got a change to send her own children to him for coaching.
Sherica Williams, affectionately called ” wire” won three Olympic silver medals, her first in 2008 in Beijing when she trailed home
Christine Ohuruogu of Great Britain in the women’s 400m final was still in shock.
That was Francis’ breakout global championships where his athletes bagged most medals for Jamaica with Williams one of the surprised podium finishers.
She spoke of the last time she saw Francis.
Francis’ body was cremated and a number of athletes coached by Francis formed a guard of honour around the vessel carrying the urn at the end of the Thanks Giving Service which was attended by Government officials and members of the wider sports and entertainment fraternity.
