Joseph De Bakker

Joseph De Bakker was the Belgium national sprint cycling champion for 12 consecutive years, from 1952 through 1963, the first five as an amateur, but he only attended the Olympics once, in 1952. There, he placed joint-ninth in the track time trial, alongside France’s Henri Andrieux. In 1955 De Bakker was also bronze medalist nationally with the team, while in 1956 he took silver with the team and in the omnium.

De Bakker turned professional in 1957 and won a bronze medal in the sprint at the European Championships in 1962. He was runner-up at the Belgian nationals in 1964 and 1965, and then won again in 1966, before coming in second again in 1967 in both the sprint and the omnium. He then retired from active competition and turned to the administrative side of the sport. He served as the national track cycling coach for Belgium from 1972 through 1976.