Lionel Cox

Lionel Cox

Lionel Cox was born in Brisbane but moved to Sydney where he worked at the Sydney Fruit Market. He competed as a cyclist at the Olympic Games in Helsinki in 1952, largely because of funds raised by colleagues at the market. He arrived in Helsinki expecting to compete in the 1000 metre cycling time trial. Instead, he competed in two other events and chose not to compete in the time trial.

First time on a tandem

Russell Mockridge, another member of the cycling team, arrived in Helsinki with a tandem bicycle. Lionel had never ridden one before, but after a trial run he and Mockridge decided to enter the tandem race. Mockridge was also entered in the 1000 metre sprint but, at the last minute, Lionel and Mockridge swapped events and Lionel rode in the sprint and Mockridge rode in the time trial.

Short-sighted

In the quarter final of the tandem event, Mockridge, who was short-sighted, mistook the starting line for the finishing line and stopped pedalling before the race was over. Lionel shouted at him, and they built up enough speed to win. They went on to win the final and the gold medal.

Only an hour after winning gold in the tandem, Lionel raced in the sprint final. With his mind on his earlier victory, he gave the leader too much of a headstart. But he managed to win the silver medal.