Arthur Wint

At the 1948 London Olympics, Wint, born on May 25, 1920, became the first Jamaican to ever win an Olympic gold medal when he finished on top in the 400m, ahead of pre-race favourite and then-world record holder, countryman Herb McKinley. That was after a silver medal-winning performance in the 800m.

Wint, who died in 1992 at the age of 72, also won a pair of medals at the Helsinki Olympics four years after his exploits in London.

He would’ve been 103 years old on Thursday and, fittingly, that was the day chosen for the official launch of the children’s book “Arthur Loves to Run,” written by one of Wint’s three daughters, Colleen Wint-Bond.

The launch was held at the headquarters of the Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association.

“I want to share the Olympic message of excellence and perseverance. I also want to encourage children to be friendly with other people, even if they are your competitors and to be kind and respect each other,” Wint-Bond told SportsMax.TV when asked about the message she wants people to receive when reading the book.

“When you’re competing, there are so many things that can go wrong and because one thing goes wrong doesn’t mean that you have to stop. Not everybody is made out to be a footballer or singer or whatever, but to feel the passion of what they want to do and to persevere with that. I also want to encourage the adults to support the children and to encourage them. It might not last a lifetime but the encouragement is important because that’s where some of their self-worth is rooted,” she added.

Wint-Bond also hopes the book will educate young minds on the history of her father’s passion for sport.

“Wherever he was in his life, until he couldn’t do it anymore, he loved to run. When he was training to be a pilot and he went to Canada, he ran and won races there while learning to ice skate. He enjoyed sport and, so, continue doing what your passion is and keep at it,” she said.

Illustration for the book was done by Patrick Meikle, an experience he described as “educational.”

“The process was a very slow but collaborative one between myself and Colleen. We did funnel a lot of our process with real life references and, as she mentioned, a lot of videos, images and history,” he said.

“I think my goal in supporting this effort was to best represent the appeal I found in her father because in this process I got to learn about the man and the child, Arthur Wint, not just the superstar that we know him to be,” Meikle added.

In addition to his exploits on the track, Wint was a successful doctor and pilot.

Wint-Bond says his experiences in those professions will form the backdrop for a pair of books in the future, completing a trilogy.

“Arthur Loves to Run” can be purchased on Amazon and is available in Jamaica at Kozy Korner Books N More.

Laing, who was born in Linstead, St. Catherine would have been 96 on February 19.

Laing represented Jamaica at the Olympics in 1948 and 1952. In 1948, he was sixth in 200m.

In Helsinki, he was fifth in the 200 m and ran the second leg in the Jamaican 4 × 400 m relay team, which won the gold medal with a new world record of 3:03.9.

He was inducted into the Central American and Caribbean Confederation Hall of Fame in 2005.

Laing is the third member of the relay team to have died. Arthur Wint and Herb McKenley died in 1992 and 2007, respectively. George Rhoden, the fourth member of the team and who held the 400m world record, is the only surviving member.

 Born on December 13, 1926, in Kingston, Jamaica, Rhoden’s journey to Olympic greatness began in the late 1940s, where he emerged as one of the leading long sprinters of his era. Alongside his compatriots Arthur Wint and Herb McKenley, Rhoden helped establish Jamaica as a dominant force in athletics during the post-war period.

 Rhoden first competed in the 1948 London Olympics, where he participated in the 100m and 400m events. Although he did not secure a medal in London, it was a precursor to the greatness that would follow. Rhoden and his teammates were expected to perform strongly in the 4x400m relay, but a muscle injury to Wint during the final dashed their hopes of a medal.

 Undeterred, Rhoden continued to build on his successes. On August 22, 1950, he set a new world record in the 400m, clocking 45.8 seconds in Eskilstuna, Sweden. His dominance in the 400m was further cemented by his victories in the AAU championships from 1949 to 1951 and the NCAA championships while at Morgan State University, where he claimed titles in the 220-yard (200m) and 440-yard (400m) events.

 Rhoden’s crowning achievement came at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, where he was a pre-race favorite in the 400m. In a thrilling race, Rhoden narrowly edged out his fellow Jamaican and close friend, Herb McKenley, to claim the gold medal. But Rhoden’s Olympic glory did not end there. As the anchor leg of Jamaica’s 4x400m relay team, he led his team to victory, securing a second gold medal and setting a new world record of 3:03.9. This victory was especially sweet, as it came against the United States, the country where Rhoden had made his home after moving to San Francisco.

 Rhoden’s legacy is one of perseverance, excellence, and national pride. His achievements paved the way for future generations of Jamaican athletes, setting a standard of excellence that continues to inspire.

 As the last surviving member of that legendary 1952 relay team—comprising Rhoden, Herb McKenley, Arthur Wint, and Les Laing—his passing marks the end of an era for Jamaican athletics. Rhoden’s contributions to the sport, both on and off the track, will be remembered as a cornerstone of Jamaica's rich sporting heritage.

 George Rhoden is survived by his family, friends, and a grateful nation that will forever honor his contributions to Jamaica's sporting legacy.

In the wake of his passing, Jamaica Olympic Association President Christopher Samuda and Jamaica’s Minister of Sport Olivia Grange have expressed their heartfelt condolences to Rhoden’s family, friends, and the wider athletic community.

President Samuda reflected on Rhoden’s life with admiration, highlighting his commitment, resilience, and the pride he took in representing Jamaica on the global stage.

“A life lived nobly and with national pride on the track. A Morgan State University alumnus, who studied and learnt lessons of commitment, resilience, and excellence which he exemplified in his golden exploits in the Helsinki 1952 Olympic Games and preceding Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games. A Jamaican who understood the value of legacy creation in sport as a critical element of nation building," Samuda said.

He emphasized that Rhoden's life and achievements serve as an inspiration for future generations of athletes, illustrating that greatness is within reach for those who are determined.

"Olympian George Rhoden has bequeathed, generously, to the athletic world a script that we can become what we will ourselves to be and that in any endeavour your footprints will blueprint the length and greatness of your stride," Samuda added.

"My heartfelt regrets to his family who mourn his passing amidst a celebration of a life characterized by values in sport and a pilgrimage on the track, the end of which will continue to inspire the beginning of many a journey by youth."

Minister Grange also paid tribute to Rhoden, recognizing his pivotal role in Jamaican track and field history and his enduring impact on the sport.

“It’s so sad that Vincent George Rhoden, the last of the celebrated quartet that won the gold medal for Jamaica in the mile relay at the Helsinki Olympics in 1952, has left us,” Minister Grange said.

She recalled the historic victory of Rhoden and his teammates Herb McKenley, Les Laing, and Arthur Wint in Helsinki, where they not only won gold but set a new world record in the process.

“The team of George Rhoden, Herb McKenley, Les Laing, and Arthur Wint took the gold in world record-breaking time in Helsinki. This they did after their disappointment in the London Olympics in 1948 when Arthur Wint pulled up in the race. Of note also is the fact that before the relay, George had beaten his close friend, Herb McKenley, to win the gold medal in the 400m,” Grange reflected.

Minister Grange also pointed out Rhoden’s significant achievements prior to the Olympics, including his world record in the 400m in 1950, a performance that set the stage for Jamaica’s future successes in track and field.

“There is no doubt that Vincent George Rhoden played his part in paving the way for future generations of Jamaican track athletes, who have certainly not let him down,” she said.

 Expressing her condolences, she added, “My most sincere condolences to his family, relatives, friends, and associates. A sprinter par excellence but whose long life was more like a marathon. Rest in peace, Vincent George Rhoden.”

George Rhoden’s passing marks the end of an era for Jamaican athletics, but his legacy will continue to inspire and guide future generations of athletes as they strive to emulate his achievements and uphold the proud tradition of Jamaican excellence on the track.