Williams, who won back to back bronze medals in the 400 meters at the 2022 and 2023 World Athletics Championships, has explained how training under the legendary Stephen Francis has transformed her career.
Barbadian sprint sensation Sada Williams has opened up about the impact of training at the MVP Track Club under the guidance of renowned coach Stephen Francis, highlighting how his influence has helped her evolve as an athlete.
Francis, often compared to legendary American boxing trainer Angelo Dundee for his ability to mold raw talent into world-class performers, has established MVP (Maximising Power and Velocity) Track Club as a breeding ground for champions.
Based at the University of Technology in St. Andrew, Jamaica, his training program has been instrumental in shaping the careers of some of the most celebrated sprinters in history.
Both Fraser-Pryce & Thompson-Herah were teammates for a long time at MVP under Stephen Francis’ guidance, but their rise to becoming world class sprinters naturally created animosity between the two.
His influence extends far beyond Jamaica, having coached stars such as Asafa Powell, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Brigitte Foster-Hylton, and Elaine Thompson-Herah.
Powell, under Francis’ guidance, broke the 100m world record twice between 2005 and 2008, while Fraser-Pryce, a multiple Olympic and World Champion, has cemented her legacy as one of the greatest female sprinters of all time.
The list of athletes who have flourished under Francis’ leadership includes Sherone Simpson, Kerron Stewart, Melaine Walker, Shericka Jackson, Michael Frater, and Nesta Carter—each playing a pivotal role in maintaining Jamaica’s dominance in track and field over the past two decades.
)
Stephen Francis has previously explained why Elaine Thompson Herah needs to consider moving to the United States if she is to stand any chance of overcoming her injury problems to return to the top.
Currently, Francis continues to oversee the progress of elite athletes, including reigning 200m World Champion Shericka Jackson, as well as rising Jamaican talents Kishane Thompson and Tia Clayton.
However, his coaching expertise has also attracted talent from outside Jamaica, with Williams being one of the notable international athletes to benefit from his tutelage.
Williams made history in 2022 when she became the first Barbadian woman to win a medal at the World Athletics Championships, clinching bronze in the 400m.
)
Kishane Thompson has embraced a series of firsts, from seeing snow and touching it to making his indoor debut in Astana.
She repeated the feat a year later in Budapest, further solidifying her status among the world’s elite. Although she finished seventh at the Paris Olympics, at 27, she remains determined to achieve greater success, with her eyes set on the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.
Reflecting on her growth since joining MVP, Williams shared how Francis has helped her refine her mindset and approach to training.
“I have become a lot more disciplined than I was in my first year,” Williams told Adtelligent TV. “I am still lazy but not as lazy. I have become more disciplined and a bit more goal-oriented under him, and I think he genuinely wants me to be one of the best in the world.”
Francis’ legacy as one of the most brilliant coaching minds in track and field is already firmly established. His ability to transform athletes into world-class competitors continues to shape the sport, and Williams’ development under his guidance is yet another testament to his unparalleled expertise.
