Maurice Schillès

After performing well in the Southern Counties Cycle Union meeting and the NCU Championships in in 1908, Frenchman Maurice Schillès stayed on in England to prepare for the Olympic Games. The plan worked, as he won the gold medal in the tandem, and silver in the 5000 metres. The following year he finished third in the sprint at the World Championships.

A mechanic, and builder of lightweight bikes, he started racing in 1905, and in 1907 won the first of many Paris Championships. Despite a long career that saw him racing beyond his 40th birthday, Schillès won only one National title, in 1923, but kept trying to add to that total up to his final attempt in 1928, when he finished third. Schillès competed at two other World Championships, in 1924 and 1925, finishing third and second, respectively in the sprint. An all-round sportsman, Schillès was also a good swimmer, boxer and runner.