Charlie Francis
Encyclopedia
Charles Merrick "Charlie" Francis (October 13, 1948 – May 12, 2010) was a sprint coach most noteworthy for being the trainer of sprinter Ben Johnson
, the first competitor to be stripped of an Olympic gold medal for using banned drugs, and sprinters Angella Issajenko
, Mark McKoy
, and Desai Williams
. Francis was banned by Athletics Canada
following his admissions at the 1989 Dubin inquiry that he had introduced Johnson to steroids.
Francis was born in Toronto, Ontario. As an athlete, he was the Canadian 100 metres
sprint champion in 1970, 1971, and 1973. He reached the second round of the Munich Olympics
in 1972 with times of 10.51 and 10.68. His personal best was 10.1 at the Pan Am
trials in Vancouver in 1971.
Francis went to Stanford University
on a track scholarship and after retiring as an athlete, became a coach — guiding his athletes to 250 Canadian records, 32 world records, and nine Olympic medals.
At 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, athletes coached by Charlie won 8 of 14 medals acquired by Canada’s track team. Charlie Francis forged one of the world’s leading sprint teams whose runners set 250 Canadian records, 32 world records and won 9 Olympic medals.
Francis was coach at the Scarborough Optimists track and field club when Johnson joined the club at age 15. He later admitted having Johnson use steroids to improve his performances beginning in 1981. Francis coached Johnson until the latter's infamous 1988 Seoul Olympics
's disqualification. He is also a vocal critic of the IOC testing procedure and has claimed that performance enhancing drug use is rampant within the sport.
Francis also coached famous sprinters Tim Montgomery
and Marion Jones
for a time in 2003. Francis, Jones, and Montgomery initially attempted to cover up their association but it soon became clear that the athletes were working with him. Francis had claimed for years that elite athletes could not compete at the highest levels without steroids but when the media became aware of Francis' association with Jones and Montgomery he stated that he had never worked with such talented athletes and that they did not need steroids to succeed at the elite level. Both were later implicated and Montgomery admitted drug use to a Grand Jury. Francis was not named as being involved in this drug use.
He also became a highly sought after personal trainer, working with clients ranging from businessmen to professional athletes in the NBA, NFL, and NHL, including former Toronto Maple Leaf forward Tie Domi
who hired Francis to help him become a better all-round athlete.
He authored two books on sprinting: Speed Trap and Training for Speed, and was the owner/operator of a highly popular (amongst sprinters) internet sprint training forum.
In 2005 he was diagnosed with Mantle Cell Lymphoma
, a form of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Francis died Wednesday May 12, 2010 at Toronto's Sunnybrook Hospital after a five-year battle with the disease shortly after a match had been found for stem cell therapy, according to statement from his family. Francis is survived by former national team member and wife of 21 years, Angela Coon and son James Francis (born February 9, 1999)
Francis' funeral took place on May 18, 2010 at Rosedale Presbyterian Church and was attended by several of Canada’s sprinting luminaries, including Johnson, Angella Taylor-Issajenko, Mark McKoy, Milton Ottey, Desai Williams, France Gareau and Cheryl Thibedeau.
Ben Johnson (athlete)
Benjamin Sinclair "Ben" Johnson, CM , is a former sprinter from Canada, who enjoyed a high-profile career during most of the 1980s, winning two Olympic bronze medals and an Olympic gold, which was subsequently rescinded...
, the first competitor to be stripped of an Olympic gold medal for using banned drugs, and sprinters Angella Issajenko
Angella Issajenko
Angella Taylor-Issajenko, CM is a former Canadian sprinter.In 1985, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada....
, Mark McKoy
Mark McKoy
Mark Anthony McKoy is a former Canadian athlete, winner of 110 metres hurdles at the 1992 Summer Olympics.Born in Georgetown, Guyana, Mark McKoy spent his youth in England, before moving to Canada as a teenager...
, and Desai Williams
Desai Williams
Desai Williams is a former sprinter from Canada, who won an Olympic bronze medal in 4 x 100 metres relay in Los Angeles 1984....
. Francis was banned by Athletics Canada
Athletics Canada
Athletics Canada or AC is the national governing body of athletics in Canada, which includes track and field, cross-country running and road running. Its purpose is the pursuit of leadership, development and competition that ensures world-level performance in athletics...
following his admissions at the 1989 Dubin inquiry that he had introduced Johnson to steroids.
Francis was born in Toronto, Ontario. As an athlete, he was the Canadian 100 metres
100 metres
The 100 metres, or 100-metre dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, it is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896...
sprint champion in 1970, 1971, and 1973. He reached the second round of the Munich Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
in 1972 with times of 10.51 and 10.68. His personal best was 10.1 at the Pan Am
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
trials in Vancouver in 1971.
Francis went to Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
on a track scholarship and after retiring as an athlete, became a coach — guiding his athletes to 250 Canadian records, 32 world records, and nine Olympic medals.
At 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, athletes coached by Charlie won 8 of 14 medals acquired by Canada’s track team. Charlie Francis forged one of the world’s leading sprint teams whose runners set 250 Canadian records, 32 world records and won 9 Olympic medals.
Francis was coach at the Scarborough Optimists track and field club when Johnson joined the club at age 15. He later admitted having Johnson use steroids to improve his performances beginning in 1981. Francis coached Johnson until the latter's infamous 1988 Seoul Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
's disqualification. He is also a vocal critic of the IOC testing procedure and has claimed that performance enhancing drug use is rampant within the sport.
Francis also coached famous sprinters Tim Montgomery
Tim Montgomery
Timothy Montgomery is a former American athlete. In 2005, he was stripped of his records – including a now void 100m world record of 9.78 seconds set in 2002 – after being found guilty of using performance-enhancing drugs...
and Marion Jones
Marion Jones
Marion Lois Jones , also known as Marion Jones-Thompson, is a former world champion track and field athlete, and a former professional basketball player for Tulsa Shock in the WNBA...
for a time in 2003. Francis, Jones, and Montgomery initially attempted to cover up their association but it soon became clear that the athletes were working with him. Francis had claimed for years that elite athletes could not compete at the highest levels without steroids but when the media became aware of Francis' association with Jones and Montgomery he stated that he had never worked with such talented athletes and that they did not need steroids to succeed at the elite level. Both were later implicated and Montgomery admitted drug use to a Grand Jury. Francis was not named as being involved in this drug use.
He also became a highly sought after personal trainer, working with clients ranging from businessmen to professional athletes in the NBA, NFL, and NHL, including former Toronto Maple Leaf forward Tie Domi
Tie Domi
Tahir "Tie" Domi is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. During a sixteen-year NHL career when he was known for his role as an enforcer, he played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets....
who hired Francis to help him become a better all-round athlete.
He authored two books on sprinting: Speed Trap and Training for Speed, and was the owner/operator of a highly popular (amongst sprinters) internet sprint training forum.
In 2005 he was diagnosed with Mantle Cell Lymphoma
Mantle cell lymphoma
Mantle cell lymphoma is one of the rarest of the non-Hodgkin's lymphomas , comprising about 6% of NHL cases. There are only about 15,000 patients presently in the U.S. While it is difficult to treat and seldom considered cured, investigations into better treatments are actively pursued worldwide...
, a form of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Francis died Wednesday May 12, 2010 at Toronto's Sunnybrook Hospital after a five-year battle with the disease shortly after a match had been found for stem cell therapy, according to statement from his family. Francis is survived by former national team member and wife of 21 years, Angela Coon and son James Francis (born February 9, 1999)
Francis' funeral took place on May 18, 2010 at Rosedale Presbyterian Church and was attended by several of Canada’s sprinting luminaries, including Johnson, Angella Taylor-Issajenko, Mark McKoy, Milton Ottey, Desai Williams, France Gareau and Cheryl Thibedeau.
Books
- Speed Trap (1991) ISBN 0-312-04877-7
- Training for Speed (1997) ISBN 0-646-32852-2