Former national athlete dies from lupus

By Cayman Sports Buzz
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Updated: 29 April 2018

Maxwell Hyman, a former Cayman Islands national track and field athlete, died 27 April in Miami after a battle with lupus. A day later, his brother, Kemar Hyman, lined up against some of the world’s fastest men with Maxwell on his mind.

“I always remember Maxwell saying, ‘Kemar, continue’ and I think he would want me to continue,” said Hyman, the Cayman Islands national record holder in the 100m – according to the Des Moines Register.

He was in Iowa for the Drake Relays when he got the news. The paper quoted him as saying: “My mom said that. I didn’t even have to say, ‘Hey, I’m coming down there.’ She was like, ‘Kemar, finish the race. That’s what he would want you to do first. And then, we can talk after.’”

So, run he did and finished seventh in the race won by Isiah Young. Though he put on a brave face, it’s certainly a tough time for Hyman and his family. The brothers were close, training with each other as youngsters and attending university in the United States together.

“Growing up, we’d always motivate each other,” Kemar said. “If I was straying off course, he’d be like, ‘Kemar, continue doing track as long as it takes.’ And he’d kind of give me that eye like, ‘Look.’ And I’d be like, ‘OK cool,’ and he’d set me back on course. So we were always there to motivate each other,” Hyman is quoted as saying by the Des Moines Register.

Lupus is a systemic autoimmune disease that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues and organs. Maxwell Hyman had the disease for less than a year.

Tributes flowed on social media over the weekend as the news broke. Pro athlete Ronald Forbes posted the following to his Facebook page: “Sad day. RIP Maxwell Hyman. You were a great teammate, track mate and friend. My prayers and sincere condolences go out to the Hyman family at this time.”

Maxwell Hyman is a former John Gray High School student where he was house captain and a prefect. He earned sportsman of the year and most outstanding athlete in 2006. He also represented the Cayman Islands at overseas competitions like the CARIFTA Games and the Island Games. He also represented Florida State University, where his brother was his teammate.