Thomas Johnson (cyclist)

Horace Thomas Johnson (30 December 1886 – 12 August 1966) was a cyclist from Great Britain. He was born in Fulham, United Kingdom.[1]

Thomas Johnson
Personal information
Full nameHorace Thomas Johnson
NicknameTiny Johnson
H.T. Tiny Johnson
H.T. Johnny Johnson
Born30 December 1886
Fulham, United Kingdom
Died12 August 1966(1966-08-12) (aged 79)
Height5 ft 4 in (163 cm)
Weight~155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st)
Team information
DisciplineTrack sprinter
Amateur team
1905-1923Putney A.C. and Catford C.C.
Major wins
1907, 1909 and 1910 - British Tandem Championships
1908 - won silver in the Olympic tandem race
National Quarter-mile Tandem record
1911 - Won 32 'top-class' races
1920 - second in the World Sprint championship
1920 - won silver in the Olympic 'individual sprint
1920 - won silver in the Olympic 'Team pursuit'
1922 - Amateur Sprint Championship of the World
Medal record
Men's cycling
Representing  United Kingdom
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1908 London 2,000 metre tandem race
Silver medal – second place 1920 Antwerp 1,000 metre individual sprint
Silver medal – second place 1920 Antwerp Men's team pursuit

Johnson was often referred to as Tiny Johnson or H. T. Tiny Johnson. He won three silver medals at the Olympic games: the tandem race at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, plus both the individual sprint the team pursuit at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium.[2]

Career edit

Johnson took up cycle racing in 1905 when he joined Putney A.C. at the age of 17. By the age of 20, in 1908, he won a silver medal at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, competing with Frederick (E.G.) Hamlin in the 2,000 metre tandem race.

In 1911 he won 32 races in top-class company.[3]

At the 1920 Summer Olympics held in Antwerp, he won the silver medal after finishing second in the 1,000 metre individual sprint with a time of 15.1 seconds, identical to Harry Ryan who was awarded the bronze medal. The following day, 10 August, Johnson was a member of the British team in the Men's team pursuit. The team, which also included Cyril Alden, William Stewart, and Albert White, finished in the silver medal position with a time of 5 minutes 13.8 seconds.

In 1922, at the World Amateur Track Championships in Paris, he won the men's sprint title, beating the Olympic champion Maurice Peeters and teammate W. Ormston.[3][4][5]

Awards edit

Golden Book edit

Johnson's achievements were celebrated in 1949 when Cycling Weekly awarded him his own page in the Golden Book of Cycling.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ "Thomas Johnson". Olympedia. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Thomas Johnson Olympic Results". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  3. ^ a b c The Golden Book of Cycling - Victor Louis Johnson. Archive maintained by 'The Pedal Club'. Archived 3 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine (Vic Johnson), 1948]
  4. ^ Sports 123, Track Cycling World Championships
  5. ^ FIAC Cyc ling and Olympism,