Frank Rothwell

FRANK WAS BORN IN CLONMEL, CO.TIPPERARY ON 16TH JUNE 1936 AND DECIATED HIS LIFE TO WEIGHTLIFTING FROM THE AGE OF 15 YEARS UNTIL THE MUNICH OLYMPICS IN 1972 WHERE HE REPRESENTED IREALND. FRANK WAS AN ECONOMIC MIGRANT TO ENGLAND IN 1956 WORKING IN LONDON AND MOVING TO YORKSHIRE IN 1957. HE WON MANY TITLES IN ENGLAND AND WAS THE ALL IRELAND CHAMPION. FRANK MISSED OUT ON THE MEXICO GAMES IN 1968 BY 22POUNDS SHORT . HE ALSO WORKED TIRELESSLY TO DEVELOP A SPORTS HALL LOCALY WHERE HE NOW LIVED IN HEBDEN BRIDGE WHICH HAS BECOME A CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN YORKSHIRE AND THE NORTH FOR WEIGHTLIFTING ENABLING TODAYS YOUTHS THE FACILITIES HE COULD ONLY DREAM ABOUT HAVING WORKED ALL HIS LIFE IN ENGINEERING AND TRAINING EVERYNIGHT IN HIS KITCHEN AT HOME. FRANK STILL TRAINS TODAY WITH HIS WEIGHTS AND REFLECTS ON THE SPECIAL CAMARADERIE THAT THE OLYMPIC GAMES GENERATES AMONGST ALL NATIONS COMPETING. FRANK WAS THE ONLY IRISH WEIGHTLIFTER AT THE MUNICH OLYMPICS AND SHARED THE TRAINING FACILITY WITH THE ISREAL TEAM AND STILL HOLDS CLOSE THE FRIENDSHIP THAT DEVELOPED WITH THE ISREAL TEAM AND THE SAD LOSS OF ONE OF THE WEIGHTLIFTERS FOLLOWING THE ATTACK ON THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE. FRANK WHO IS 75YEARS YOUNG TOMORROW (16TH JUNE) IS STILL AS FIT AS THE BUTCHERS DOG AND HAS A MUSCLE TONE MOST TWENTY YEAR OLDS WOULD BE PROUD OF. HE IS A COMPLETE INTROVERT AND SHY PERSON AND IT HAS TAKEN WEEKS TO GET HIM TO AGREE TO THIS PUBLICATION