Reginald Athelstane Arnold OAM (9 October 1924 – 23 July 2017) was an Australian racing cyclist.

Reginald Arnold
Personal information
Full nameReginald Athelstane Arnold
NationalityAustralian
Born(1924-10-09)9 October 1924
Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Australia
Died23 July 2017(2017-07-23) (aged 92)
Nerang, Queensland, Australia
Sport
SportTrack cycling
Updated on 25 July 2017

Arnold's cycling career began in 1941, when his brothers gave him a bicycle for his birthday. Despite being blind in one eye, Arnold joined Ashfield cycling club in Sydney where he made a name for himself as a capable track sprinter, winning several state titles.[1]

After World War II, Arnold competed on the European cycling circuit, and won numerous road and track races there as well as in America and Australia between 1946 and 1963.[2] In 1952 and 1957, he was a member of the team which won the European madison championships (the de facto world title). He specialised in six-day racing and competed in 103 six-day events around the world.[1]

In 2000, Arnold was awarded the Australian Sports Medal (ASM) for being part of the world number one team for day cycle races for a number of years. In the 2012 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to cycling.[2]

Arnold died on 23 July 2017, aged 92, in Nerang, Queensland.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Reg Arnold The Forgotten Champion - Bicycling Australia". Bicycling Australia. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Media Notes: Medal of the Order of Australia" (PDF). It's an Honour. Australian Government. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  3. ^ Retired professional cycling great of 1950s Reg Arnold dies on the Gold Coast at age 92.