The 2008 Beijing Olympics silver medallist Germaine Mason has died in a motorcycle crash, aged 34.
Jamaican police have confirmed that the high jumper has died in a tragic accident in the country.
The Jamaica Constabulary wrote on Twitter: “Germaine Mason, 34, Jamaican-born athlete and former national high jumper, died in a motorcycle crash this morning.”
Mason was Jamaican-born and switched allegiances to Great Britain in 2006.
He claimed world indoor bronze for Jamaica in 2003 and was eligible to represent British Athletics as his father was born in London.
The Jamaican-born athlete, who switched to represent Great Britain in 2006, won silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
“Our sincere condolences to the entire sporting fraternity,” tweeted Jamaica prime minister Andrew Holness.
UK Athletics have released the following statement:
UK Athletics is deeply saddened to hear that the 2008 Olympic high jump silver medallist Germaine Mason has tragically died in Jamaica.
The 34 year-old won silver at the Beijing Olympic Games representing Great Britain, where he equalled his personal best of 2.34m in the competition.
Niels de Vos, CEO of UK Athletics, spoke on behalf of the governing body:
“Our staff and colleagues who worked with Germaine are naturally saddened to hear this awful news. Our deepest sympathies go to Germaine’s friends, family and the athletics community at this difficult time.”
Senior high jump coach at British Athletics, Fuzz Caan, who worked closely with Germaine at the time of his Olympic success, added:
“Germaine was an outstanding athlete and a truly lovely man. He had a wry sense of humour and was a pleasure to be around. He was a great ambassador of British high jumping. It is an honour for us to have him as part of our sporting history.”
Athletes from across many sports and nations have been paying tribute to the high jumper on Twitter.
This is just awful. Such sad news. https://t.co/dBECw1WbtF
— Dame Jess Ennis-Hill (@J_Ennis) April 20, 2017
Heart goes out to friends and family of Germaine Mason on this sad day..
R I P Germaine . Never forgotten— Linford Christie (@ChristieLinford) April 20, 2017
Devastated to hear about fellow 2008 Beijing Olympian teammate Germaine Mason today. Thoughts are with family and friends. #TeamGB #Olympics
— Gail Emms (@gailemms) April 20, 2017
My condolences and deepest sympathy go out to Germaine Mason’s family & friends. A tragic loss of such fun & loving person. üôèüèæ #ingodshands
— Denise Lewis (@RealDeniseLewis) April 20, 2017
R.i.P Germaine, life is delicate üò• pic.twitter.com/HdYuCfAguO
— James Ellington (@Jellington100m) April 20, 2017
Go hard and enjoy every day like it’s your last, because you can go at anytime, trust me I nearly did.
— James Ellington (@Jellington100m) March 13, 2017
Rest In Peace to the great Germaine Mason you’re soaring higher than all of us
— Erik Kynard Jr. (@Erik_Kynard) April 20, 2017
My deepest sympathy and condolences to his family and the Jamaican athletics federation
— Erik Kynard Jr. (@Erik_Kynard) April 20, 2017
RIP @GermaineMasonHJ a very sad day for track and field. üôÅ We medalled together in 2008 a very special moment we shared. He will missed. ‚ù§Ô∏è pic.twitter.com/uT5naf2MmS
— Tasha Danvers (@tashadanvers) April 20, 2017
