Germaine Mason: Team GB trials crowd in poignant tribute to Olympic high jump hero, killed in motorbike crash aged 34 in Jamaica
The Beijing Olympics silver medallist died in April, with Usain Bolt one of the first on the scene at the time
THERE was a tender moment at the athletics Team Trials today when fans came together to remember high jumper Germaine Mason.
Back in April this year the world of sport was left stunned when news broke that the former Team GB athlete and Beijing Games silver medallist had been killed in Jamaica.
Mason was understood to be heading to Kingston in the early hours of Thursday morning after a party when he lost control of the motor bike, crashed, and died on the spot.
It is understood he swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle on a causeway which links Kingston to the island’s main airport and then lost control of the bike.
And today, the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham remembered the Jamaican-born athlete with the traditional applause that greets high-jumpers when they are limbering up.
Olympic sprint superstar Bolt, who has been pals with Mason since 2002, got a call about the crash and travelled out the scene of the accident by which time Mason was already dead.
The crowd came together as one in the West Midlands sun today to remember Mason, an athlete who competed at the very highest level.
The stadium is hosting the Team GB Trials for spots on the team for this summer's World Championships in London.
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And people there and watching on TV posted on Twitter to express their delight at how Mason's memory was remembered.
Retired GB sprinter and hurdler Kris Akabusi described it as a "great tribute", and Sian Davis wrote that it was "fitting".
Sean Ingle at first pointed out how the atmosphere was "underwhelming", but soon changed that opinion when he heard the crowd remember Mason.
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