Peter Nelson (cyclist)
Encyclopedia
Peter Nelson, was an Australian olympic road and track cyclist.
He was South Australian state champion in 1950 for the 15, 25 and 50 mile events, and again in 1953 for the 50 mile events. He attended the 1952 Summer Olympics
in Helsinki
as part of the Australian road cycling team in the 190 km event and in the track team for the 4000m team pursuit. He was popular among cycling circles because he had ethical values and a resolute but honest approach to his sport. A good example of these ethical values was his approach towards his opponents. While many cyclists where vehemently opposed to there rivals, Nelson wold offer them billet when they were in Adelaide
.
Nelson went on to marry Marjorie Jackson
, the famous Australian olympic runner.
suburb of Black Forest
. The son of wheelwright
and automotive manufacturing engineer Frederick Nelson and his wife Winifred (née Mostyn), he was educated at Christian Brothers College, Adelaide
. He idolised his brothers, and when they returned from World War II
he followed them into whatever sports they took up. His brothers remembered him as someone who could take up any sport and excell at it. In fact he was so good at swimming
that he was offered a place on the South Australian state swimming squad. However by this time he had discovered cycling
.
Nelson won his first race as a 16 year old in 1947, and thereafter committed himself to become a professional cyclist. Jim Nester, a dual olympian took interest in him and encouraged him to train as a road cyclist and to join a club. Peter Nelson joined the Sturt Cycling Club, based at the outdoor velodrome
at Edwarstown Recreational Ground. Whilst working full time at A.G. Healing's sports store in Adelaide
, Nelson continued to ride over 800 km per week. This often meant that he was still out riding long after nightfall.
His resolution and commitment paid off. In 1950 he was 15, 25 and 50 mile state champion and was included on the state senior team. He was successful in the 100 mile Mail Run and won the Adelaide-Milang one day classic.
In 1951 Nelson won the road race in the Australian Olympic trials and was included in the Australian team to compete in Helsinki
. On route to Helsinki
, Nelson met his future wife, Marjorie Jackson
. At the 1952 Summer Olympics
in Helsinki
, Nelson competed in the 190 km event and in the track team for the 4000m team pursuit. Despite extremely high expectations, the Australian team finished only seventeenth. Many blame this on the interruption to training the team experienced while being accommodated in London
. It was extemly difficult to train in the congested, populous city.
Peter Nelson returned to Adelaide
and in 1953 he reclaimed his title as 50 mile state champion. Later that year on 7 November, he was married to Marjorie Jackson
in Lithgow
, New South Wales
. Both returned to Adelaide the following year and retired from their sports.
The couple settled down on an almond orchard ouside Mclaren Vale
where they raised three children.
Later in life Nelson was involved heavily with the Unley Rotory Club and was instrumental in establishing the Unley Memorial Swimming Pool where he later taught learn to swim classes.
Peter Nelson died of leukaemia on 2 February 1977 aged 45 years old. The Peter Nelson Leukaemia Foundation stands in his honour, estalished by his wife Marjorie Jackson
.
He was South Australian state champion in 1950 for the 15, 25 and 50 mile events, and again in 1953 for the 50 mile events. He attended the 1952 Summer Olympics
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
as part of the Australian road cycling team in the 190 km event and in the track team for the 4000m team pursuit. He was popular among cycling circles because he had ethical values and a resolute but honest approach to his sport. A good example of these ethical values was his approach towards his opponents. While many cyclists where vehemently opposed to there rivals, Nelson wold offer them billet when they were in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
.
Nelson went on to marry Marjorie Jackson
Marjorie Jackson
Marjorie Jackson-Nelson, AC, CVO, MBE is a former Governor of South Australia and a former Australian athlete...
, the famous Australian olympic runner.
Biography
Peter Nelson was born on the 26 of April 1931 in the AdelaideAdelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
suburb of Black Forest
Black Forest, South Australia
Black Forest is an inner southern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is located in the City of Unley.-History:There have been three Post Offices named Black Forest; the first opened on 1 September 1899 and was renamed Glandore in 1915, the second opened on 10 November 1947 and was renamed...
. The son of wheelwright
Wheelwright
A wheelwright is a person who builds or repairs wheels. The word is the combination of "wheel" and the archaic word "wright", which comes from the Old English word "wryhta", meaning a worker or maker...
and automotive manufacturing engineer Frederick Nelson and his wife Winifred (née Mostyn), he was educated at Christian Brothers College, Adelaide
Christian Brothers College, Adelaide
Christian Brothers College is a private Catholic school in the CBD of Adelaide, South Australia. It was founded by a group of Irish Christian Brothers in 1878, and it is now one of three Christian Brothers schools in the state....
. He idolised his brothers, and when they returned from World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he followed them into whatever sports they took up. His brothers remembered him as someone who could take up any sport and excell at it. In fact he was so good at swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
that he was offered a place on the South Australian state swimming squad. However by this time he had discovered cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
.
Nelson won his first race as a 16 year old in 1947, and thereafter committed himself to become a professional cyclist. Jim Nester, a dual olympian took interest in him and encouraged him to train as a road cyclist and to join a club. Peter Nelson joined the Sturt Cycling Club, based at the outdoor velodrome
Velodrome
A velodrome is an arena for track cycling. Modern velodromes feature steeply banked oval tracks, consisting of two 180-degree circular bends connected by two straights...
at Edwarstown Recreational Ground. Whilst working full time at A.G. Healing's sports store in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, Nelson continued to ride over 800 km per week. This often meant that he was still out riding long after nightfall.
His resolution and commitment paid off. In 1950 he was 15, 25 and 50 mile state champion and was included on the state senior team. He was successful in the 100 mile Mail Run and won the Adelaide-Milang one day classic.
In 1951 Nelson won the road race in the Australian Olympic trials and was included in the Australian team to compete in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
. On route to Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, Nelson met his future wife, Marjorie Jackson
Marjorie Jackson
Marjorie Jackson-Nelson, AC, CVO, MBE is a former Governor of South Australia and a former Australian athlete...
. At the 1952 Summer Olympics
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, Nelson competed in the 190 km event and in the track team for the 4000m team pursuit. Despite extremely high expectations, the Australian team finished only seventeenth. Many blame this on the interruption to training the team experienced while being accommodated in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. It was extemly difficult to train in the congested, populous city.
Peter Nelson returned to Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
and in 1953 he reclaimed his title as 50 mile state champion. Later that year on 7 November, he was married to Marjorie Jackson
Marjorie Jackson
Marjorie Jackson-Nelson, AC, CVO, MBE is a former Governor of South Australia and a former Australian athlete...
in Lithgow
Lithgow, New South Wales
Lithgow is a city in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia and is the centre of the local political division City of Lithgow. It is located in a mountain valley named Lithgow's Valley by John Oxley in honour of William Lithgow, the first Auditor-General of New South Wales.Lithgow is...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. Both returned to Adelaide the following year and retired from their sports.
The couple settled down on an almond orchard ouside Mclaren Vale
McLaren Vale, South Australia
McLaren Vale is a township in the wine region of McLaren Vale in South Australia. At the 2006 census, McLaren Vale had a population of 2,908....
where they raised three children.
Later in life Nelson was involved heavily with the Unley Rotory Club and was instrumental in establishing the Unley Memorial Swimming Pool where he later taught learn to swim classes.
Peter Nelson died of leukaemia on 2 February 1977 aged 45 years old. The Peter Nelson Leukaemia Foundation stands in his honour, estalished by his wife Marjorie Jackson
Marjorie Jackson
Marjorie Jackson-Nelson, AC, CVO, MBE is a former Governor of South Australia and a former Australian athlete...
.