IWF120y/21 – 1948: Rodney Wilkes, the pride of Trinidad and Tobago

Since it started its Olympic participation at the 1948 Games in London, Trinidad and Tobago has amassed until 2024 a total of 19 medals. Fifteen of them come from Athletics, undoubtedly a sport with great tradition and superb athletes in the Caribbean island. But the second best in the medal chart is Weightlifting, with early podium presences precisely in 1948, and 1952. In the 60kg category, Rodney Wilkes (photo) earned the first-ever Olympic medal for his nation, by placing second in the British capital. Born in 1925, Wilkes (nicknamed the “Mighty Midget” or “Midget Atom”) was first noticed when he won gold at the 1946 Central American and Caribbean Games. Arrived in London, Wilkes made a combined result (Press, Snatch, and Clean & Jerk) of 97.5-97.5-122.5-317.5, getting silver behind Egypt’s Mahmoud Fayad. Four years later, in Helsinki (FIN), the Caribbean ace made a better total (100-100-122.5-322.5), but had to content with the bronze. In the Finnish capital, his teammate Lennox Kilgour (1927-2004) would also shine (in the 90kg), with a third place (Total of 402.5kg). In 1951, at the first Pan-American Games, Wilkes was champion, a feat that he also achieved at the 1954 Commonwealth Games. In a time when international travel was not the norm (and was extremely expensive), Wilkes could never compete at the IWF World Championships, mostly organised in Europe during the 1950s. After achieving a fourth place in Melbourne 1956 (Total of 330kg), and failing the qualification for Rome 1960, Wilkes retires from the sport and works as an electrician in Trinidad and Tobago. Some days after completing his 89th anniversary, he passed away in March 2014. Since his (and Kilgour’s) early feats, no more lifters from the Caribbean nation have medalled at the Olympic level.