Hylton Mitchell

Hylton Mitchell dominated track cycling in Trinidad and Tobago during the 1950s, becoming a pioneer in the sport. In 1955 Mitchell competed at the Pan American Games in Mexico before being selected for the Melbourne Olympics the following year. At the Games he competed in the road race, and both the sprint and 1,000 metres time trial on the track. He was also listed as an alternate to run in the 4 x 100 metres relay on the athletics track, but did not start the race. Sadly for Mitchell his career was cut short in 1958 following a serious injury he suffered whilst doing demolition work on his home, which left him confined to a wheelchair.

Undeterred, Mitchell took up weightlifting along with several field events including the javelin and shot put. Now competing as a para-athlete, he went on to win medals at international competitions, including a weightlifting silver at the 1966 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games, followed by gold in the same sport four years later. He also won gold in the javelin and bronze in the shot put at the 1967 Para Pan American Games. In 1985 Mitchell was inducted into the Trinidad and Tobago Sports Hall of Fame.