Tears as Usain Bolt joins family and friends at Germaine Mason's funeral

Athlete died last month aged 34

2024-07-07 14:48:59

Usain Bolt at the funeral of friend Germaine Mason. ©REUTERS/Gilbert Bellamy

A tearful Usain Bolt was a pallbearer at friend Germaine Mason's funeral on Sunday in Jamaica, ITV News has reported. Former Great Britain high jumper Mason died on 20 April when his motorbike crashed on the way home from a party with friends.

Family and friends, including Bolt and his Jamaica teammate Nesta Carter, were in Kingston to pay their respects, according to reports.

Bolt, who helped to dig Mason's grave earlier this month, was among those carrying Mason's coffin at the Hagley Park Seventh Day Adventist Church in St Andrew.

Mason was well-known across the Caribbean, having won the world indoor bronze for Jamaica in 2003.

Despite a career-threatening injury that ruled him out until 2004, he switched allegiance to Great Britain in 2006 – a move which rocked Jamaican athletics.

He claimed silver for Team GB at the Beijing Olympics, jumping 2.34 metres to finish behind Russian Andrey Silnov.

Mason is still the holder of the Jamaican national record in the high-jump.

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