Wellesley Bolt, father of sprint legend Usain Bolt, has died

Wellesley Bolt, the father of Jamaican track icon Usain Bolt, has died.

According to the Jamaica Observer, he passed away on Monday after a lengthy illness. He was 68 years old.

A devoted father, Wellesley was often seen alongside his wife, Jennifer, in the stands as they cheered on their son during his rise to global stardom. He played a vital role in Usain’s early life and was a constant source of encouragement.

The Bolt family hails from Sherwood Content in Trelawny, where Wellesley operated a grocery shop and was an active member of the community. In addition to Usain, Wellesley had two other children, Sherine and Sadiki, also known as Sada Bolt.

In a recent interview on Wayne Marshall’s “The Cut,” Usain explained that he was the middle child, only a few months older than his younger brother. He explained that even though Sada’s mother didn’t live in Trelawny when he was younger, he would regularly visit Wellesley and the Bolt family during the summertime as a child.