DIRECTOR of Sport Steve Ninvalle has led tributes following the sudden death of former national distance runner Kelvin Johnson, whose passing has sent shockwaves across the athletics fraternity in Guyana and the wider Caribbean.
Offering condolences on behalf of the National Sports Commission (NSC)and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Ninvalle described Johnson’s death as “a tremendous loss to the sport” and “a significant blow to the athletics fraternity.”
Ninvalle said he knew Johnson well, having regularly sent Guyanese squads to regional 10k events, where he witnessed firsthand the athlete’s enduring dedication to distance running.
“His influence extended beyond his performances on the track to his work in developing and coaching other distance runners,” Ninvalle said, praising Johnson’s lasting contribution as both an elite competitor and a mentor.
Johnson built a reputation as one of the Caribbean’s premier distance runners, consistently securing podium finishes at marquee regional road races, including the CARICOM 10K, the TeleSur 10K in Suriname, and the COURTS Guyana 10K.
On the track, his crowning achievement came at the 2013 NAAA Sagicor General/NGC National Championships in Trinidad and Tobago, where he set a Guyanese national record of 31 minutes 14.14 seconds in the men’s 10,000 metres — a benchmark that remains unbroken.
Widely respected in both Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, where he was based for a period, Johnson was equally revered off the track for his humility, pleasant nature, and ever-present smile, which endeared him to teammates, rivals, and coaches across regional sport.
After ending his senior competitive career, Johnson transitioned to grassroots coaching and youth development through the Trendsetters Sports Club, working extensively with young athletes in Georgetown’s Sophia community.
He remained actively involved in coaching until his death, having guided a squad of young BMX riders at an event organised by the Kaieteur Attack Cycling Club just two days earlier.
Local tributes described Johnson as a transformative mentor who devoted his post-racing years to giving young people in Sophia discipline, purpose, and a positive pathway. (Modified Press Release)
