Tassy Johnson

Tasman “Tassy” Johnson had a brief but successful cycling career just prior to the start of World War II. In 1936 Johnson finished third in both the 1,000 metres time trial and the sprint at the Australian track championships. These performances earned him a place on the Olympic team for the 1936 Berlin Games. At the Olympics he placed 11th in the 1,000 metres time trial on the velodrome, as well as 16th in the road race in a big peloton of riders who were only three seconds behind the winning time.

One year after the Olympics, Johnson finished as the runner-up in the sprint at the Australian championships, before finishing third in 1938. The same year he represented Australia at the British Empire Games in Sydney, winning silver in the time trial on the track. Following his retirement from the sport he went to officiate at multiple cycling races in Australia, including 27 editions of the Herald Sun Tour in Victoria. His son Gordon was also a noted track cyclist in the 1960s and 1970s.