Eugène Van Roosbroeck facts for kids
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| Personal information | |
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| Born | 13 May 1928 Noorderwijk, Belgium |
| Died | 28 March 2018 (aged 89) Noorderwijk, Belgium |
| Team information | |
Eugène Van Roosbroeck (born May 13, 1928 – died March 28, 2018) was a famous Belgian racing cyclist. He came from a town called Noorderwijk in Belgium. Eugène is best known for winning a gold medal at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London.
He won this gold medal in the team road race event. He was part of a strong Belgian team. His teammates were Lode Wouters and Leon De Lathouwer. Together, they cycled their way to victory.
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Eugène Van Roosbroeck's Olympic Gold
Eugène Van Roosbroeck achieved his biggest success at the 1948 Summer Olympics. This exciting event took place in London, England. He competed in the cycling road race. This race was a tough challenge for all cyclists.
The Team Road Race Victory
The team road race was a special event. The individual times of the top riders from each country were added up. The country with the fastest total time won. Eugène and his teammates showed great teamwork. Their combined effort earned them the gold medal. It was a proud moment for Belgium.
The Story of the Missing Medal
After the Olympic race, something unusual happened. The Belgian cyclists, including Eugène, did not know about the team competition. They thought they had only competed as individuals. Because of this, they returned home to Belgium. They missed the official medal ceremony.
Receiving the Medal Years Later
Many years passed after the Olympics. Eugène Van Roosbroeck learned something surprising. He heard that another athlete, André Nelis, had received a copy of his own lost medal. This made Eugène think about his own missing medal. He realized he had never received his Olympic gold medal.
In 2010, Eugène decided to act. He asked the Belgian Olympic Committee for his medal. They looked into his request. Finally, after 62 years, Eugène received his well-deserved gold medal. It was a very special moment for him. He finally held the medal he had earned so long ago.
