Louis Martin MBE
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One of Derby’s most successful Olympians was Louis Martin MBE. He was born in Kingston, Jamaica on 11th November 1936 and died in Heanor on 16th January 2015. He came to Europe as a nineteen-year-old, first landing in France, then coming to Derby as he had a friend living here. Two days later, he found a job and quickly enrolled in a gymnasium to continue the weight training he had started in Jamacia. Initially he took up body building and won the Mr. England title.
He then turned to competitive weight lifting and represented Jamaica at the 1958 Empire Games in Cardiff. In 1959, representing Great Britain, he won the World Championship Gold medal.
In 1960, at the Rome Olympics, he won a bronze medal. At the 1964 Tokyo Olympics he won a silver medal. He competed in the Middle Heavyweight (90 Kg) category.
Team GB have won just three Olympic weightlifting medals since 1952. Two of them belong to Louis Martin.
After giving up competitive weightlifting he opened his own gym. It continued for 34 years before finally closing in 2004. He wanted to encourage and coach young weightlifters and ensure his gym was available to all. There was no membership fee or entrance charge, members were encouraged to drop money in a tin by the door when they could afford it.
On the 6th November 1965 he attended the Investiture at Buckingham Palace to receive his MBE from the Queen for his contribution to sport.
He was elected president of British Weightlifting and it was in this role that he carried the Olympic flame in 2012 during its relay; forty-six years after he carried the English flag at the 1966 Commonwealth Games.
On 12th May 2018, his was one of the eight plaques unveiled depicting people who had made a significant contribution to the City of Derby. The plaque was unveiled by his son Richard Martin. An article in Derby Telegraph that day records details of how the people to be honoured were selected.
This link will show how he gained his medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Tokyo Olympics
and this link will take you to the tribute by David Webster which will give you more information about this remarkable man. Tribute
He is buried in Nottingham Road Cemetery.
