Rodney Wilkes
Encyclopedia
Rodney Adolphus Wilkes (born 8 March 1925) is a former weightlifter from Trinidad and Tobago
. Nicknamed "The Mighty Midget" he remained relatively unknown outside of local competition until he won the gold medal at the 1946 Central American and Caribbean Games
in Barranquilla
, Colombia. His performance included record lifts of 205 pounds (93 kg) in the press, 210 pounds (95.3 kg) in the snatch and 275 pounds (124.7 kg) in the clean and jerk.
He was selected to represent his country at the 1948 Olympics
in London where he competed in the featherweight division. At those Games he became the first athlete from Trinidad and Tobago to win an Olympic medal by taking the silver, behind Egyptian Mahmoud Fayad
. Wilkes lifted a combined 317.5 kilograms (700 lb) but Fayad set a new Olympic and World record of 332.5 kilograms (733 lb).
In 1951 Wilkes won the featherweight gold medal at the first Pan American Games
in Buenos Aires. The next year he was again selected for the Olympics
in Helsinki. On this occasion he won the bronze medal behind Rafael Chimishkyan
and Nikolai Saksonov
, both of the Soviet Union. After a brief period of retirement in 1953 Wilkes returned to competition and won gold at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
in Vancouver; four years later he won bronze at Games
in Cardiff
.
His final Olympic appearance came at the 1956 Melbourne Games
. He finished in fourth position with a combined lift of 330 kilograms (727.5 lb), missing out on a medal by one place and 5 kg. He continued competing until 1960 but retired for good when he failed to make the West Indies team
for the Olympics in Rome
. Following his retirement he became an electrician in his home city of San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
.
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
. Nicknamed "The Mighty Midget" he remained relatively unknown outside of local competition until he won the gold medal at the 1946 Central American and Caribbean Games
1946 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 5th Central American and Caribbean Games were held in Barranquilla, Colombia, from 5 March to 25 March 1946. These games featured 1.540 athletes from thirteen nations, competing in seventeen sports.-Medal table:-References:...
in Barranquilla
Barranquilla
Barranquilla is an industrial port city and municipality located in northern Colombia, near the Caribbean Sea. The capital of the Atlántico Department, it is the largest industrial city and port in the Colombian Caribbean region with a population of 1,148,506 as of 2005, which makes it Colombia's...
, Colombia. His performance included record lifts of 205 pounds (93 kg) in the press, 210 pounds (95.3 kg) in the snatch and 275 pounds (124.7 kg) in the clean and jerk.
He was selected to represent his country at the 1948 Olympics
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
in London where he competed in the featherweight division. At those Games he became the first athlete from Trinidad and Tobago to win an Olympic medal by taking the silver, behind Egyptian Mahmoud Fayad
Mahmoud Fayad
Mahmoud Fayad was a Featherweight in the weightlifting Egyptian team at the Summer Olympics of 1948 in London. He scored a Gold medal for Egypt after lifting a record of 332.5 kg. This was the second time that Egypt accumulates 5 medals after doing so back in 1936 Berlin for the first time.-...
. Wilkes lifted a combined 317.5 kilograms (700 lb) but Fayad set a new Olympic and World record of 332.5 kilograms (733 lb).
In 1951 Wilkes won the featherweight gold medal at the first Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
in Buenos Aires. The next year he was again selected for the Olympics
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
in Helsinki. On this occasion he won the bronze medal behind Rafael Chimishkyan
Rafael Chimishkyan
Rafael Arkadyevich Chimishkyan ; born March 23, 1929 in Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, USSR) is a former weightlifter and Olympic champion who competed for the Soviet Union. He won a gold medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki.-External links:*...
and Nikolai Saksonov
Nikolai Saksonov
Nikolai Nikolaevich Saksonov was a Russian weightlifter, world champion and Olympic medalist, who competed for the Soviet Union.He received a silver medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, and won a gold medal at the 1953 World Championships in Stockholm in the featherweight class.After...
, both of the Soviet Union. After a brief period of retirement in 1953 Wilkes returned to competition and won gold at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
The 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Vancouver, in the province of British Columbia in Canada, from 30 July-7 August 1954. These were the first games since the name change from British Empire Games took effect in 1952....
in Vancouver; four years later he won bronze at Games
1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
The 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Cardiff, capital of Wales from 18–26 July 1958.Thirty-five nations sent a total of 1,130 athletes and 228 officials to the Cardiff Games and 23 countries and dependencies won medals, including, for the first time, Singapore, Ghana, Kenya...
in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
.
His final Olympic appearance came at the 1956 Melbourne Games
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
. He finished in fourth position with a combined lift of 330 kilograms (727.5 lb), missing out on a medal by one place and 5 kg. He continued competing until 1960 but retired for good when he failed to make the West Indies team
British West Indies at the 1960 Summer Olympics
Athletes from the West Indies Federation competed under the name Antilles at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy. The short-lived nation only participated at these single Games, as Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago competed independently again in 1964, and Barbados started competing at the 1968...
for the Olympics in Rome
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
. Following his retirement he became an electrician in his home city of San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
The City of San Fernando with a population of 55,419 according to the 2000 census, is the larger of Trinidad and Tobago's two cities and the second largest municipality after Chaguanas. It occupies 18 km² and is located in the southwestern part of the island of Trinidad...
.