Leo Peelen facts for kids
Leo Peelen in 1988
|
|||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 16 July 1968 Arnhem, the Netherlands |
||||||||||
| Died | 24 March 2017 (aged 48) Apeldoorn, the Netherlands |
||||||||||
| Height | 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) | ||||||||||
| Weight | 85 kg (187 lb) | ||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||
| Sport | Track cycling | ||||||||||
|
Medal record
|
|||||||||||
Leopoldus ("Leo") Eduardus Theoduris Peelen (born 16 July 1968 – died 24 March 2017) was a talented Dutch track cyclist. He is best known for winning a silver medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. Leo was a strong competitor on the cycling track, earning many awards during his career.
Who Was Leo Peelen?
Leo Peelen was born in Arnhem, the Netherlands, on 16 July 1968. He grew up to become a professional athlete, focusing on track cycling. This sport involves racing bicycles on special indoor or outdoor tracks called velodromes. Leo was known for his speed and endurance on the track. He passed away on 24 March 2017, at the age of 48, in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands.
Olympic Success
One of Leo Peelen's biggest achievements was at the 1988 Summer Olympics held in Seoul. He competed in the points race, which is a thrilling event in track cycling. In this race, cyclists earn points by sprinting during certain laps and by lapping other riders. The cyclist with the most points at the end wins. Leo performed incredibly well, earning a silver medal for the Netherlands. This was a huge moment in his career and for his country.
National and World Achievements
Besides his Olympic success, Leo Peelen also achieved great things in other competitions:
- In 1989, the year after the Olympics, he won a bronze medal at the World Championships. This showed he was one of the top cyclists in the world.
- He became a Dutch champion six times in different track cycling events.
- He won the points race in 1983, 1984, and 1985 (during the winter season).
- He was the champion in the individual pursuit in 1986.
- He won the Madison race in both 1987 and 1988. The Madison is a team event where two riders take turns racing.
Leo Peelen's dedication and skill made him a respected figure in Dutch cycling.
