WELLESLEY Bolt was the father of Usain Bolt – the most successful male athlete of all time.
Sadly, Wellesley passed away in March 2025 after a long health battle, leading to a flood of tributes from across the world.
Growing up in Jamaica
Wellesley ran a small grocery shop in Sherwood Content in Trelawny, Jamaica.
He and his late wife Jennifer had two other children named Sadiki and Christine, as well as Usain.
They played an integral role in their son’s sporting success, as he went from running races at Williams Knibb High School to the world stage.
Wellesley could often be seen cheering on his son from the sidelines and one particularly notable appearance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Fans were thrilled to see Wellesley’s joy as his son won his first Olympic gold in the 100m race in a world-record time.
His unassuming nature earned him the nickname of the “quiet force”; behind Usain Bolt.
Wellesley’s tragic passing
According to the Jamaican Observer, Wellesley passed away on March 31, 2025.
His cause of death is unknown but it is understood that he had been battling a long term illness.
Tributes to Usain’s dad have flooded in, with even the Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness joining in mourning Wellesley.
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.”;
Jamaica's Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, also paid tribute to Wellesley.
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.”;
Usain’s incredible career
Usain is widely considered to be the greatest sprinter of all time.
He holds eight Olympic medals across the 100m, 200m and 4 x 100m races.
The runner is also an eleven-time World Champion and is the most successful male athlete in the world according to the World Championships.
The star lives with his girlfriend Kasi Bennett, with whom he welcomed a child on May 17, 2020.
They named their daughter Olympia Lightning and later welcomed twin sons Thunder and Saint Leo in June 2021.
