Munich Olympics medal winner 'gobsmacked' by cyclists

7:30am Tuesday 14th August 2012 in News By James Nadal

Munich Olympics medal winner 'gobsmacked' by cyclists Munich Olympics medal winner 'gobsmacked' by cyclists

AN OLYMPIC cycling medallist from Marlow says he has been 'gobsmacked' by Team GB's success on two wheels.

It has been raining medals for the cyclists, with golds for Sir Chris Hoy, Bradley Wiggins, Laura Trott and Victoria Pendleton.

Willie Moore, who won a bronze at the Munich Olympics in 1972, has lauded the new British sporting heroes, saying he has been overwhelmed by the number of triumphs.

"I'm gobsmacked by the level of success we've had," he said.

"I don't think any other sport has seen the dominance that GB has had with cycling."

The father-of-two, 65, won his medal in the team pursuit and said GB's success in this discipline was a highlight for him.

But rising star Laura Trott, who won two gold medals, also won his praise.

"After my own event, Laura Trott is the one that sounds out," he said.

"It was such a mature ride for one so young and her performance was beyond belief."

Mr Moore, who cycles with the Marlow riders, linked to running group the Marlow Striders, works at Saddle Safari in Crown Lane.

He was at the Velodrome on Tuesday to witness Trott's triumph on the same evening Chris Hoy overtook Sir Steve Redgrave's record gold medal tally .

He also saw Victoria Pendleton just miss out on a second gold.

Pendleton, who won silver, was said to have been treated harshly by a number of commentators after she was penalised in the final with Aussie rival Anna Meares.

Mr Moore agreed: "It was grossly unfair, however, you have to give credit to the Australian."

But overall, Mr Moore, who was a gold and silver medallist at the 1974 commonwealth games, and silver medal winner at the world championships in 1973, was delighted with Team GB.

Comments (5)

8:06am Tue 14 Aug 12

Stalemate says...

Us Brits are great at sitting down sports: biking, rowing, equestrian and canoe. In fact nearly half of our medals were won sitting down (30/65)!

Rowing was a joke, with three pairs of our women winning gold: one pair did it with one oar, another pair did it with two skulls, and another pair did it with two skulls but were lighter than the other pairs!

There needs to be a huge cull of many of these events. All I want two know is which pair of women are the fastest!

Cycling is so much about technology, the bikes, the helmets, the suits, the facilities etc, so much so that it shuts out the rest of the world who don't have the technology!

To be frank, some of the races shown at the velodrome appeared farcical to all outside the sport of cycling: in some races competitors were not allowed to overtake an old man on the bike in front until the last couple of laps of the ten in the race!

The Olympic ideal is about human endeavour on the playing fields and not in the labs.
Us Brits are great at sitting down sports: biking, rowing, equestrian and canoe. In fact nearly half of our medals were won sitting down (30/65)! Rowing was a joke, with three pairs of our women winning gold: one pair did it with one oar, another pair did it with two skulls, and another pair did it with two skulls but were lighter than the other pairs! There needs to be a huge cull of many of these events. All I want two know is which pair of women are the fastest! Cycling is so much about technology, the bikes, the helmets, the suits, the facilities etc, so much so that it shuts out the rest of the world who don't have the technology! To be frank, some of the races shown at the velodrome appeared farcical to all outside the sport of cycling: in some races competitors were not allowed to overtake an old man on the bike in front until the last couple of laps of the ten in the race! The Olympic ideal is about human endeavour on the playing fields and not in the labs. Stalemate

8:43am Tue 14 Aug 12

Flackwell says...

jeez
jeez Flackwell

10:20am Tue 14 Aug 12

Edgar Brooks says...

Well we now know one person who could win putty medals, for sitting down and spouting claptrap (anonymously, of course) through the airwaves.
Well we now know one person who could win putty medals, for sitting down and spouting claptrap (anonymously, of course) through the airwaves. Edgar Brooks

1:28pm Tue 14 Aug 12

Tharus Bond says...

Considering that when they interviewed Laura Trott after winning the team pursuit, they mentioned the pain she goes through and that she pushes herself so hard that she is physically ill after completing a race sometimes, shows in my view that cycling is just more than the bike. these people are true insperations.
Considering that when they interviewed Laura Trott after winning the team pursuit, they mentioned the pain she goes through and that she pushes herself so hard that she is physically ill after completing a race sometimes, shows in my view that cycling is just more than the bike. these people are true insperations. Tharus Bond

3:26pm Tue 14 Aug 12

Blaze Falconburger says...

It doesn't matter how much technology is on a bike - it doesn't go up hills by itself! Winning any medal is a great achievement by any athlete no matter what the discipline.

As an avid mountain biker I can tell you technology only plays a very small part compared to your legs!
It doesn't matter how much technology is on a bike - it doesn't go up hills by itself! Winning any medal is a great achievement by any athlete no matter what the discipline. As an avid mountain biker I can tell you technology only plays a very small part compared to your legs! Blaze Falconburger

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