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

171 between 1936 and 1951. As the story goes, three Mexicans and two Guatemalans faced the starter alongside Ramjohn. The Mexicans, who had the benefit of training at high altitude, were expected to sweep the field. However, exactly 15 minutes and 54.8 seconds later in what was a new record for the distance, Ramjohn created history when he edged Mexico’s Jesus Borgonio by a mere 0.2 seconds in a blistering sprint to the wire. Two years later in 1948 he was one of five athletes at T&T’s first showing at the Olympic Games at the Wembley Stadium where he competed in both the 5,000 and the 10,000 metres although he only made it to the final in the longer distance. 1982 - Trinidad and Tobago Humming Bird Medal Silver for Social Work and Sport Note: Among our more recent ‘golden’ individual athletes flying our flag high globally are cyclist Nicholas Paul and runners Richard Thompson , Marc Burns , Keston Bledman , Emmanuel Callender , AaronArmstrong , Jereem Richards , Michelle-Lee Ahye , Machel Cedenio , Dwight St. Hilliare and Asa Guevera . MARCUS MINSHALL (1932 - 1970) Marcus Grant was undoubtedly, from all accounts, the most versatile sportsman/athlete, yet the most under celebrated ever to represent Trinidad and Tobago. Born to Wilson and Jean Minshall in 1932, in Trinidad, he was the second of 4 children, the others beingAubrey, Petal and Peter, the latter T&T’s renowned artist/masman/designer. He attended Tranquility elementary school, QRC at the high school level and later the IATA (Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture). When Minshall died at the age of 38 of cancer, he had made his name on the local and Caribbean sporting circle, representing T&T in cricket, rugby, football, basketball and water polo and also at first class club levels in hockey, golf, tennis, swimming, snooker/billiards and darts! Note: William (Willie) Rodriguez (1934- ) was another star T&T sportsman, the only one ever to represent the West Indies in both cricket and football.