PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Trinidad and Tobago’s sporting fraternity is mourning the loss of the country’s first Olympic medallist, weightlifter Rodney Wilkes.

Wilkes passed away over the weekend at the San Fernando General Hospital, aged 89.
He won silver in the featherweight class of weightlifting at the 1948 Olympic Games in London and followed it up with bronze in the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland.
“I have always admired Rodney Wilkes for believing in himself while pursuing what was not a popular sport in the 1940s, largely training himself, receiving little reward for his efforts but quite humbly beating the best in the world to become this country’s first Olympic medallist,” Sports Minister Anil Roberts said in a press release on Monday.
“Wilkes’ historic feats at the Olympic Games as well as his other achievements at international level are not forgotten by those of us in the sport industry who believe that his efforts are an inspiration to those who dreamed of success in their chosen sport.”
Wilkes was honoured at the inaugural Spirit of Sport Awards (SOSA) in 2011 with a Lifetime Achievement Award which was accompanied by a monthly stipend to cover his living and medical expenses.