In 1976, Hasely Crawford delivered the nation's first ever Olympic Gold Medal, winning the 100 Metres sprint final at the Montreal Olympics in a time of 10.06 seconds.

Jubilation erupted throughout the nation and everyone from schoolchild to the Prime Minister hailed Crawford as hero. His cache of rewards included having a BWIA jet and the National Stadium named after him, as well as being presented with the Trinity Cross.

Crawford deserved all the accolades he received, much more in fact, and in the years since his accomplishment he has always gracefully thanked the people for supporting him. The fact, however, is that it was Crawford's determination, stamina, hard work and passion that drove him to the finish line on that fateful day.

Crawford went up for the national team when he was 20 years old and, because of an error by an official, failed to make it. He was allowed another opportunity three months later when the error was discovered and although he won at his trial was still denied inclusion on the team by the officials.

Crawford eventually made the team and was selected for the Munich Olympics of 1972, but a pulled hamstring, however, saw him take two strides and pull-up lame in the 100-metre final.

Then came the Montreal Olympics and, although Don Quarrie was favoured to win, Crawford held him off. Apart from the Olympics, Crawford brought home gold from a number of regional and international meets during his career before and following Montreal.

Two decades later, Ato Boldon sent the nation into Ato-mania when he took Bronze at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, placing third in the 100 Metre and 200 Metres finals. Trinbagonians waited with bated breath on the night of the final of the Men's 100 Metres sprint final at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

Boldon had recovered from a serious hamstring injury the previous year and was counted among the favourites, but in the end it was Boldon's training partner, Maurice Greene, who triumphed to win the Gold. The people of Trinbago were ecstatic over Boldon's Silver Medal.

Boldon, who also won Bronze in the 200 Metres final at Sydney, was celebrated by the people of Trinbago and, of course, the Government which again came under fire for not lending enough support to top local athletes during their preparation for events such as the Olympics.

Boldon's outspokenness on his return home after the Olympics led to a number of improvements in the way the Government treated with sport.

Boldon told people they should take note of Richard Thompson long before the Beijing Olympics of 2008 and by the time the year rolled in everyone was calling the young sprinter Torpedo Thompson.

That Saturday morning when the final of the Men's 100 Metres sprint was being run people gathered at whatever televisions they were close to and as Thompson crossed the finish line in second place cheers erupted from almost every home and businessplace in the country.

Later on, the National Relay Team, Keston Bledman, Marc Burns, Emmanuel Callender and Richard Thompson, took Silver in the Men's 4X100 Relay.

Again our own had made us proud and we are quite sure that by the time the London Olympics closes one of our athletes will bring home Gold, Silver, Bronze or the promise of a medal four years down the road.

FOOTNOTE: McDonald Bailey was born in Williamsville, Trinidad. He competed for Great Britain in the Men's 100 Metres at the 1948 Olympics held in London. At the 1952 Olympics held in Helsinki he won the Men's 100 Metres Bronze Medal.

As we continue the series looking back at achievements and events in Trinidad and Tobago during the 50 years since Independence, as compiled by Wayne Bowman, the focus turns to the athletes who brought home Gold and Silver from the Olympic Games.