Cyril Musil

Cyril Musil was a Czechoslovak cross-country skier and a resistance fighter during World War II. He was a six-time champion of Czechoslovakia and Poland. Musil began skiing when he was three, with his racing career beginning during his military service. Musil won the silver medal at the 1933 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in the 4 × 10 kilometres relay. He competed in three events at the 1936 Garmisch-Partenkirchen Olympics. Musil was part of the Czechoslovak team that finished in fifth place in the 4 × 10 kilometres relay. He also finished in 9th place in the 50 kilometres and in 14th place in the 18 kilometres.

During World War II Musil and his wife were involved in the anti-Nazi resistance. They used their guesthouse as a hiding place for resistance fighters. In 1948 Musil refused to co-operate with the Czechoslovak State Security (“Státní bezpečnost”). The following year he was arrested and tortured. In December 1949, following a staged trial, Musil was jailed for 20 years on charges of espionage and illegal gun ownership. In 1950 Musil managed to escape prison and, after crossing the border into Austria via France, he emigrated to Canada. Musil lived the rest of his life in Ontario where he ran a boarding house and a ski equipment shop.