Cor Gubbels

At the start of the 20th century racewalking was a popular sport in the Netherlands with multiple Dutch clubs taking part. Cor Gubbels of the Pro Patria club in Rotterdam was one such athlete, and he dominated the discipline throughout the 1920s. Gubbels built up an impressive list of victories, winning no fewer than 26 national titles across four different distances during his career. His first Dutch title came in 1920 when he became the national champion in the 1,500 metres race walk, which earned him a place on the Olympic team. At the 1920 Antwerpen Games he competed in the 3,000 metres race walk but did not advance from the heats. Despite this initial setback Gubbels continued to compete, eventually becoming the Dutch champion in the 1,500 metres, 3,000 metres, and the 10 km events in 1922. As the decade went on he won dozens of national titles with wins in the 1,500 metres (1923, 1926, 1929–30), 3,500 metres (1923, 1925–26, 1929–30, 1932), 10 km (1923, 1925–26, 1928, 1930–31), and 25 km (1923–26, 1928, 1930). In 1930 Gubbels set a Dutch record in the 20 km race walk that stood until 1959.

Personal Best: 3kmW - 13.02.8 (1932).