Paul Masson (cyclist) facts for kids
Masson at Athens 1896 Summer Olympics
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Paul Masson |
| Born | 11 October 1876 Mostaganem, French Algeria |
| Died | 30 November 1944 (aged 68) Cannes, France |
| Team information | |
| Discipline | Track |
| Role | Rider |
Paul Masson (born October 11, 1876 – died November 30, 1944) was a famous French cyclist. He is best known for his amazing performance at the very first modern Olympic Games in 1896.
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Paul Masson: Olympic Cycling Champion
Paul Masson was a talented cyclist from France. He was born in Mostaganem, which was part of French Algeria at the time. He became a professional athlete and competed in many races.
Early Career and Olympic Dream
In 1895, Paul wanted to join the French national cycling team. At first, his application was not accepted. But Paul didn't give up! He went on to win two big races later that year. These wins proved he was a top rider. Because of his success, he earned his spot on the national team.
Gold Medals at the 1896 Athens Olympics
Paul Masson was only 19 years old when he competed in the 1896 Summer Olympics. These games were held in Athens, Greece. He took part in three different track cycling events. What's even more incredible is that all three races happened on the same day!
The 2 Kilometres Sprint Race
Paul's first event was the 2-kilometre sprint. This race was six laps around the Neo Phaliron Velodrome track. Only three other cyclists finished the race. Paul won this event by two seconds. He beat Stamatios Nikolopoulos from Greece and his own teammate, Léon Flameng.
The 10 Kilometres Race
Next, Paul competed in the 10-kilometre race. This was a longer race, covering 30 laps of the track. There were five other riders in this event. Two Greek riders had a collision early on. This left Paul, his teammate Flameng, and Austrian Adolf Schmal to battle for the win. Paul Masson just barely won the race, finishing ahead of Flameng.
The Time Trial Event
Paul's final race was the time trial. In this event, cyclists race one lap against the clock. Seven other riders competed in the time trial. Paul finished his lap in just 24 seconds. This was two full seconds faster than the second-place rider, Nikolopoulos. Paul Masson won all three of his races, earning three gold medals for France!
Life After the Olympics
After his incredible success at the Olympics, Paul Masson became a professional cyclist. He even changed his name to Paul Nassom, which is "Masson" spelled backward. He continued to race, but he didn't achieve as many major wins. His best result as a professional was a bronze medal. He won this at the 1897 World Professional Sprint Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.
Images for kids
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Paul Masson at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens.
