BREAKING NEWS: Former British Olympian and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Shaun Pickering dies aged 61 – as Greg Rutherford hails him as ‘a pillar of the athletics community’ 

Olympic shot putter Shaun Pickering has sadly passed away at the age of 61

Pickering won the bronze medal with Wales at the 1998 Commonwealth Games

Pickering also competed at the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996 and come 27th

Olympic shot putter Shaun Pickering has passed away at the age of 61.

Pickering won the bronze medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur and finished 27th in the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.

Pickering holds the Welsh record for shot put with a best of 20.45m in 1997 – placing him sixth in the UK all-time rankings.

Pickering – who was born into an athletics-mad family – was inducted into the Welsh Athletics hall of fame in 2009.

He was inducted following a stellar career that saw him win five Welsh shot put titles, five Welsh discus throw titles, and nine Welsh hammer throw titles.

Olympic shot putter Shaun Pickering (above) has passed away at the age of 61 Pickering (far right) won the bronze medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur and finished 27th in the Atlanta Olympics in 1996

Picking followed in the footsteps of his parents. His mother Jean was an Olympic sprint relay medallist in 1952 and European long jump champion in 1954. While his father was an athletics coach, teacher and BBC commentator.

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Picking and his family set up the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund after the former commentator died unexpectedly in 1991 aged 60. Picking worked tirelessly after he retired to keep his parents’ legacy alive through the foundation.

As a result, it was the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund that broke the news Pickering had passed away by saying: ‘It is with deep sadness that we learned of the passing today of our beloved Shaun Pickering.

‘Shaun did so much for athletics and to carry on the amazing legacy of his parents Ron and Jean. All our hearts go out to Shaun’s family and friends at this dreadfully sad time.’

Team GB gold medallist Greg Rutherford took to social media to pay tribute to Pickering. He wrote: ‘Incredibly sad news to wake up to. Shaun was a really good man and a pillar of the athletics community. He will be deeply missed.’

British Athletics posted: ‘Everyone at @BritAthletics is so saddened to hear this news today. Shaun loved the sport passionately and cared deeply for athletes and his many friends across the sport. His work to continue the success of @RunforRon Fund supported so many athletes.’

While Welsh Athletics said: ‘Our thoughts are with Shaun’s friends and family at this sad time. Everyone at Welsh Athletics is sad to hear the news that ‘Hall of Fame’ inductee, multiple Welsh Champion and record holder Shaun Pickering has passed away.’

The English Schools AA wrote: ‘A wonderful man, and a huge advocate for generations of young athletes,’ while England Athletics added: ‘We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Shaun, who cared passionately for our sport and was an inspiration to so many.’

Pickering was inducted into the Welsh Athletics hall of fame in 2009 following a stellar career Team GB gold medallist Greg Rutherford took to social media to pay tribute to Pickering

Lynn Davies, who was an Olympic long jumper that was coached by Pickering’s father Ron – wrote: ‘Meriel (my wife) and I are distraught with this very sad news. We have lost a very close friend, who was almost one of our family.

‘We have always been very close to the Pickering family since I met Ron and Jean Pickering when they first came to Wales. Shaun was a proud Welsh athlete and a passionate coach and supporter of athletics in this country, just like his dad before him. Shaun was a big man with a big heart. We will miss him dearly.’

Peter Eriksson, the former Olympic and Paralympic head coach at UKA, took to social media to say: ‘One of the greatest people I have known. Shaun helped so many athletes. He is going to be missed by many and not forgotten. Rest in peace, my friend.’

Sprinter Adam Gemili also shared his condolences, saying: ‘I can’t believe this is real. I am truly heart broken. Shaun was one of the kindest and most generous souls I have ever known. He gave me a home for a year when I first moved up to Loughborough. Gone way too soon. Rest easy Shaun, you will never be forgotten!’.