Profiles: Heroes, Role Models and Pioneers of Trinidad and Tobago - by Nasser Khan

167 Salandy successfully defended her six world titles against Yvonne Reis on 24 March 2007 and in March 2008 at the Centre of Excellence she defeated the previously unbeaten Karolina Lukasik, regaining her world record by winning eight title belts in one fight (WBC, WBA, WBE, WIBA, IWBF, WIBF, GBU and UBC)! In December 2008 she successfully defended her titles against Yahaira Hernandez. • 2006, 2008 T&T Sportswoman of the Year • 2007 Chaconia Medal Gold 2009 Awarded posthumously the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. LESLIE M. STEWART (1961- ) L aventille-born, he became the world light heavyweight champion at the Hasely Crawford National Stadium in 1987. He also won the Latin American boxing title in 1983 and the Commonwealth light heavyweight championship in 1985. • 1983, 1985 Sportsman of the Year • 1987 Chaconia Gold Medal RODNEY A. WILKES (1925-2014) R odney Wilkes had a successful featherweight weightlifting career from 1942 to 1960. In 1946, he burst onto the international scene, winning a gold medal in the featherweight class at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Colombia. In 1950 he retained this title in Guatemala with another gold medal. At the Pan-American Games level, Wilkes competed in the first Pan American Games in Buenos Aires in 1951 where he won gold. He was also the winner of a gold and bronze at the then British Empire