Who are Fred Kerley’s Parents? Everything About His Troubled Childhood Before Olympic Glory

From a small bedroom shared with 12 family members to the bright lights of Olympic podiums, Fred Kerley’s rags-to-riches story is one of resilience and untapped talent. Born on May 7, 1995, in San Antonio, Texas, the United States sprinter has come from humble beginnings in a difficult childhood to become one of the world’s quickest men, taking home silver in the 100m at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and gold in the 2022 World Championships. Behind this incredible rise are the shadows of a missing father and mother, and the unflinching support of his aunt, Virginia, who took him in to raise him. This article explores the lives of Fred Kerley’s parents, Ricky and Virginia Kerley, and the challenges that defined his journey to stardom.

Who Is Fred Kerley’s Father?

Fred Kerley’s father is Ricky Kerley, a man whose life in the presence of his son was abruptly ended by being incarcerated. Around the time that Fred was born, Ricky had been incarcerated and thus did not have much involvement in the upbringing of his son and three other siblings. Fred has addressed this lack publicly, mentioning in a personal essay called Meme and Me that his father “ended up in jail” when he was only two years old. The motive behind Ricky’s incarceration is never revealed in official records, but its effect was severe—Fred and his brothers and sisters threatened to be placed in foster care. 

While Ricky spent much of Fred’s childhood away, the runner has since reopened communication, affirming in 2022 upon his world championship victory, “I talk to my parents every day. What happened before doesn’t happen now.” This move towards reconciliation illustrates Fred’s own maturity and acceptance of letting bygones be bygones, although Ricky’s initial absence created a lack filled by other family members.

Who Is Fred Kerley’s Mother?

Virginia Kerley is Fred’s biological mother, yet similar to his father, she was for the most part absent from his childhood. Fred has referred to her as having “taken wrong turns in life,” a statement that suggests inner conflict or decisions on her part that caused her to drift from her children. In his own words in Meme and Me, Fred remembers being a toddler “who didn’t know what was happening around him” when his mother disappeared from his life. Her whereabouts during his childhood are unknown—he once tweeted in 2018, “My mom somewhere I don’t know“—highlighting the estrangement. 

Virginia Kerley’s departure, along with Ricky’s incarceration, left Fred and his siblings in turmoil until their aunt, another Virginia but affectionately referred to as “Meme,” stepped in. Similar to Ricky, Fred has re-established a bond with his mother as an adult, talking to her every day even though things got off to a bad beginning. Still, it is evident that she was overshadowed in his early life by the woman who was to become his actual maternal influence.

That lady, Aunt Virginia, welcomed Fred at the age of two, adopting him and all four of his siblings to preserve the family unit. With 13 children—her own and adopted alike—to raise in a one-bedroom house in Taylor, Texas, she gave up her own food so that they might eat. Fred thanks her as “the woman who changed my life,” gratitude branded onto his arm with a “Meme” tattoo on his left bicep. Though not his birth mother, Aunt Virginia’s impact looms large above his tale, leading him from poverty to the track.

What Is Fred Kerley’s Parents’ Nationality?

Fred Kerley’s parents, Ricky and Virginia Kerley are American, and so is Fred, born and raised in Texas. The roots of the Kerley family are deeply rooted in the United States, with Fred’s birthplace of San Antonio and upbringing in Taylor making him a proud Texan. Though certain sources, including the USA Track and Field bio, mention Fred is of “Ghana and Congo descent,” this is more than likely a reference to ancestral heritage and not his parents’ country of origin. Ricky and Virginia Kerley lived their lives in the U.S., and there is no suggestion they were born outside of the country or were dual citizens. Their son’s status as an American athlete—competing for the U.S. in international events such as the Olympics—also coincides with their nationality.

The heritage question introduces the element of mystery. Fred’s DNA analysis, noted in some of the profiles, verified African heritage, a common denominator among most Black American households. Yet, without direct declarations from Ricky or Virginia Kerley, their individual association with such heritage is circumstantial. What is known is that Fred’s US upbringing, dictated by the adversity of his parents’ absence and his aunt’s nurturing, formed the resolve that propelled him to Olympic success.

Fred Kerley’s is a tale of victory over adversity, one in which the lack of his biological parents, Ricky and Virginia Kerley, opened the door to his aunt’s redemptive love. At 29 years old now, with a net worth projected at $4 million in 2024 from his sprinting career and endorsements, Fred is a two-time Olympian—silver in Tokyo, bronze in Paris 2024—and world champion. His tormented childhood, with a prison-bound father and a mother gone to “wrong turns,” kindled a flame that adversity fueled and triumph crowned.