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NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC) – Bahamas is mourning the death of sports legend Thomas Robinson who passed away on Sunday after a long battle with cancer.
Robinson, Bahamas’s first track Olympian, died at the Princess Margaret Hospital around 07:00hrs. He was 74. Robinson became a household name after the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Wales, where he was his country’s sole representative.
“Far more than for me, however, Tommy’s passing is a great loss for our nation,” declared Prime Minister Perry Christie.
“As a pioneer of international track competition for The Bahamas, Tommy was the elder statesman of Bahamian athletics. He was a sporting hero of truly legendary status. He was in a class by himself, revered by all.”
Robinson, affectionately known as ‘Tommy’ won gold medal in the 220 yards and the silver medal in the 100-yard sprint during the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Wales.
Christie described Robinson’s performance as a “singular moment in our life as a people”.
Robinson also medalled at the 1962 and 1966 Commonwealth Games and won silver in the 100 yards at both games.
“Thomas Augustus Robinson is an icon for the ages now,” said Christie of Robinson, the first Bahamas track athlete to participate in the Olympics in 1960 and who in 1964 became the first Bahamian to make it to the finals of an Olympic track event.
“He will continue to stand as a singular example of the greatness that can be attained in any area of human endeavour”.
A stadium built in 1981 was named after Robinson and the government also named the new national stadium in his honour.
The Bahamas government says details of a state funeral in Robinson’s honour will be announced soon.
Robinson, Bahamas’s first track Olympian, died at the Princess Margaret Hospital around 07:00hrs. He was 74. Robinson became a household name after the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Wales, where he was his country’s sole representative.
“Far more than for me, however, Tommy’s passing is a great loss for our nation,” declared Prime Minister Perry Christie.
“As a pioneer of international track competition for The Bahamas, Tommy was the elder statesman of Bahamian athletics. He was a sporting hero of truly legendary status. He was in a class by himself, revered by all.”
Robinson, affectionately known as ‘Tommy’ won gold medal in the 220 yards and the silver medal in the 100-yard sprint during the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Wales.
Christie described Robinson’s performance as a “singular moment in our life as a people”.
Robinson also medalled at the 1962 and 1966 Commonwealth Games and won silver in the 100 yards at both games.
“Thomas Augustus Robinson is an icon for the ages now,” said Christie of Robinson, the first Bahamas track athlete to participate in the Olympics in 1960 and who in 1964 became the first Bahamian to make it to the finals of an Olympic track event.
“He will continue to stand as a singular example of the greatness that can be attained in any area of human endeavour”.
A stadium built in 1981 was named after Robinson and the government also named the new national stadium in his honour.
The Bahamas government says details of a state funeral in Robinson’s honour will be announced soon.
