Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) president Michael Romany has expressed condolences to the family,friends and the local cycling fraternity on the passing of 1948 Olympian Compton Gonsalves. " Compton was a tireless servant to local sport and cycling in particular. His contribution to national service serves as an exemplary example."
Romany also noted that the passing of Gonsalves means that the only surviving member of T and T's history making 1948 London Olympic Games team is Rodney Wilkes.
Former national cyclist and administator Compton Gonsalves died on Thursday at the Mount Hope Hospital. He was 85 years old. Born in Guyana, December 11, 1926, Gonsalves came to Trinidad in 1940 and will be remembered as a champion cyclist in the 1940s and 50s. He represented T&T at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, the CAC Games, the World Championships and many International events.
In 1951, he was instrumental in the formation of the T&T Cycling Federation and was a past president.
Gonsalves’ formed the Saddle Boys Cycle Club and in 1952 he was a founding member of the Madonna Wheelers. He was inducted into the T&T Sports Hall of Fame in 1985. Gonsalves funeral will take place at the Church of the Assumption, Long Circular Road, Maraval at 10 a.m today