Robert Whetters

In 1954, when he was 14-years-old, Robert Whetters became a member of the Canterbury Bankstown Cycling Club in New South Wales, Australia. Three years later Whetters became the Australian amateur 25-mile road champion, and went on to have a career that spanned more than two decades. In 1960 he won the national amateur pursuit title on the track, earning himself a place on the Australian Olympic team. At the Roma Games he competed in both the individual road race and the 4,000 metres team pursuit on the track.

In 1967 Whetters was named the Australian Cyclist of the Year and won the Sir Hubert Opperman Trophy before turning professional. Two years later he won both the national road race title and the Launceston Six Day race in Tasmania with compatriot Keith Oliver. Whetters and Oliver went on to win another Six Day title in Launceston in 1972. That same year Whetters began representing teams in Belgium, competing in races in Europe until 1974. Back in Australia he continued to race in multiple six day races, along with the Goulburn to Sydney Classic, before retiring in 1979. After a break of nearly 30 years, Whetters returned to cycling, winning bronze in two events at the 2009 World Masters Games.