Michael Walker (13 August 1885 – 17 March 1971) was an Irish cyclist.[1] He represented Ireland in two events at the 1912 Summer Olympics. (Ireland and Scotland entered separate national teams; France made a formal objection to this the day before the race, but the objection failed. The Irish team included Michael Walker, his brother John, also a long-distance cyclist; Francis Guy, 'Arjay' Mecredy; Matthew Walsh and Bernard Doyle.) The Irish Times, describing the race, wrote: "M Walker came over [fell] twice during the event and he had the mistortune to be compelled to ride for the greater part of the journey on a leaking tyre. BJ Doyle, who was generally regarded as the rider most likely to improve on his form at the trial race, had the misfortune to be fouled by the crack [the champion] of the Swedish team, and fell He punctured twice, and lost his way and fell twice again before he finished. F Guy of Belfast rode excellently, and despite three falls of a puncture, he finished within five minutes of Walker, who was the fastest of the Irishmen."[2] The team rode on Lucania bicycles, made in John O'Neill's bicycle factory in Pleasants Street, Dublin. Walker was Irish champion at 50 miles in 1913 and set national records at both 12 and 24 hours.[3]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 13 August 1885 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 17 March 1971 (aged 85) Dublin, Ireland |
In civil life Michael Walker was a compositor. With his brother John Walker, also an Olympic cyclist, he fought in the 1916 Rising for Irish independence. He was a member of the Irish Volunteers, G Company, 2nd Battalion, Jacob's Garrison, under the command of Thomas MacDonagh.[4] He was subsequently imprisoned in H.M.P. Stafford, but later returned to Ireland to fight in the War of Independence.[5]
References edit
- ^ "Michael Walker". Olympedia. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ The Irish Times, Saturday 12 July 1912, page 11
- ^ "Michael Walker Olympic Results". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
- ^ "Michael A Walker, wearing IRA service medals, 1966". National Library of Ireland. National Library of Ireland. 1966. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
- ^ Healy, Graham. "The Irish Olympic cyclist who fought in the Easter Rising". The Bike Comes First. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
External links edit
- Michael Walker at Cycling Archives
- Michael Walker at ProCyclingStats
- Michael Walker at Olympedia
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