Jamaican sprint sensation Usain Bolt has tweeted his congratulations to his agent, Donegal man Ricky Simms, who has been awarded an honorary Doctorate.
Simms looks after some of the world’s top athletes, including his star turn Bolt, and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree from the Ulster University.
Simms is a former middle-distance runner with Finn Valley AC who is a director of Pace Sports Management.
A former student of the Royal and Prior in Raphoe, Simms competed at 800m and 1,500m level and won a couple of Irish vests at U23 level.
He met Kim McDonald, Sonia O’Sullivan’s former coach, and went to work for his management company in 2000.
Not long after, McDonald died and Simms, along with his partner Marion Steininger and Duncan Gaskell took over PACE.
Simms is a native of Milford and is also heavily involved in coaching.
Bolt has a strong Donegal team behind him as Raphoe’s Grainne O’Dea is the Athlete Services Manager at Pace and has worked closely with Bolt while her brother Darren works for Pace’s athlete services department.
Congrats to my G @SimmsRicky for receiving his Honorary Doctor of Science from Ulster University @PACESportsMgmt
Now have call him #DrR pic.twitter.com/Himd2RDF9L— Usain St. Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) July 4, 2017
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