Jamaican Olympian and former Kingston College track star Rupert Hoilett has passed away

Hoilett emerged from obscurity to represent Jamaica in the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo while still a student of Kingston College. 

He burst onto the scene a year earlier at ISSA Boys Championships by winning the 440 yards race in 49.3 seconds, at the time the first sub-50 clocking in the history of the event. 

He sealed his place on the Jamaica team to Tokyo with an improved 49.1 seconds at champs in 1964 and was given the prestigious honour of carrying the nation’s flag at the opening ceremonies.

Meanwhile the JAAA in a press release said it was saddened by the passing of Hoilett. 

According to president Garth Gayle, Rupert was known as a hard worker with talent to boot. he was good enough to

Make the Olympic team even as a kc schoolboy coming out of boys championships,”

Gayle said we owe our current successes to athletes like Hoilett who toiled hard for success and lifted the name of Jamaica even when there was not much to gain from the sport.

The sports department here at Irie Fm would like to express our condolences to the family and friends of the late Rupert Hoilett