Dean Woods
Encyclopedia
Dean Anthony Woods, OAM
(born 22 June 1966) is an Australian racing cyclist from Wangaratta in Victoria
known for his track cycling
at the Olympic Games
and Commonwealth Games
. On Australia Day
1985 he was awarded the Order of Australia
medal for service to cycling.
At the 1984 Summer Olympics
in Los Angeles
Woods, with team mates Michael Grenda
, Kevin Nichols
, and Michael Turtur
, won the 4000m team pursuit
. Critics did not give them much chance. The team was coached by Charlie Walsh
and dubbed Charlie's Angels. In the final the Australians defeated the USA by 3.86 seconds, even though the Australians were riding conventional bikes while the Americans had high-tech machines. Woods told The Border Mail
in 2004, "Expectations weren't high for us from the press, but we thought we would do pretty well. We had a close team."
In the 4000m individual pursuit
Woods was beaten for bronze by Leonard Nitz
(USA).
In the 1988 Summer Olympics
in Seoul
Wayne McCarney, Stephen McGlede, Scott McGrory
, Brett Dutton and Woods won the bronze medal
for the team pursuit, defeated by the USSR (gold) and German Democratic Republic (silver). In the individual pursuit Woods won the silver medal
.
Woods won a bronze medal in the team pursuit in the 1996 Summer Olympics
. At the 1986 Commonwealth Games
he won the individual pursuit event. In the Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic
Woods set the record of 5h 12m in 1990.
Woods established and worked at a bicycle shop, Dean Woods Direct, at Wangaratta but has since sold it.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 22 June 1966) is an Australian racing cyclist from Wangaratta in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
known for his track cycling
Track cycling
Track cycling is a bicycle racing sport usually held on specially built banked tracks or velodromes using track bicycles....
at the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
and Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
. On Australia Day
Australia Day
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia...
1985 he was awarded the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
medal for service to cycling.
At the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
Woods, with team mates Michael Grenda
Michael Grenda
Michael Grenda, OAM is a retired road bicycle and track cyclist from Australia, who represented his native country at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California....
, Kevin Nichols
Kevin Nichols
Kevin John Nichols is a former track cyclist and Olympic gold medallist.-Career:At the 1984 Summer Olympics, in Los Angeles, Nichols was a member of the gold winning pursuit team. Nichols also competed at the 1976 Summer Olympics and 1980 Summer Olympics.-References:* , from sports-reference.com;...
, and Michael Turtur
Michael Turtur
Mike Turtur is a former track cyclist, Olympic gold medallist, and current race director of the Tour Down Under....
, won the 4000m team pursuit
Team pursuit
The team pursuit is a track cycling event similar to the individual pursuit, except that two teams, each of up to four riders, compete, start on opposite sides of the velodrome.- Race format :...
. Critics did not give them much chance. The team was coached by Charlie Walsh
Charlie Walsh
David Barry Vivian Walsh, better known just as Charlie Walsh, was the national coach for the Australian Cycling Federation at the Australian Institute of Sport from 1980 to 2001. He oversaw Australia's rise from between 20th and 30th in world track cycling to number one in 1993 and 1994...
and dubbed Charlie's Angels. In the final the Australians defeated the USA by 3.86 seconds, even though the Australians were riding conventional bikes while the Americans had high-tech machines. Woods told The Border Mail
The Border Mail
The Border Mail is a daily newspaper published in Albury-Wodonga, Australia, serving the twin cities and the surrounding region.The first edition was printed on 24 October 1903 by editor Hamilton Mott and his brother Decimus...
in 2004, "Expectations weren't high for us from the press, but we thought we would do pretty well. We had a close team."
In the 4000m individual pursuit
Individual pursuit
The individual pursuit is a track cycling event where two cyclists begin the race from a stationary position on opposite sides of the track.The event is held over 4 km for men and 3 km for women. The two riders start at the same time and set off to complete the race distance in the...
Woods was beaten for bronze by Leonard Nitz
Leonard Nitz
Leonard Harvey Nitz is a retired track cyclist from the United States. He won the silver medal in the 4000m team pursuit and bronze in the 4000m individual pursuit at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California.-References:*...
(USA).
In the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
Wayne McCarney, Stephen McGlede, Scott McGrory
Scott McGrory
Scott McGrory in the Victorian country town of Walwa is an Australian former professional racing cyclist. McGrory was most successful in track cycling, winning the gold medal in the Madison at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, a silver in the Madison at the 1996 UCI Track Cycling World...
, Brett Dutton and Woods won the bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
for the team pursuit, defeated by the USSR (gold) and German Democratic Republic (silver). In the individual pursuit Woods won the silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
.
Woods won a bronze medal in the team pursuit in the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
. At the 1986 Commonwealth Games
1986 Commonwealth Games
The 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland for the second time. The Games were held from 24 July-2 August 1986.-Organisation and Controversy:...
he won the individual pursuit event. In the Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic
Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic
The Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic cycling race is a one day road bicycle race . The race started in 1895 and is Australia's oldest one day race and the world's second oldest one day race, after the Liège–Bastogne–Liège Classic. Historically, the route started in central Melbourne and followed...
Woods set the record of 5h 12m in 1990.
Woods established and worked at a bicycle shop, Dean Woods Direct, at Wangaratta but has since sold it.