George Giles (cyclist)

George Robert Bayne Giles (21 December 1913 – 11 July 1973) was a New Zealand track and road cyclist. He was a New Zealand's leading track cyclist of the 1930s and held several national titles in 1936–38: the national sprint, time trial third time in succession, and 10-mile title.[2]

George Giles
Giles in 1936
Personal information
Full nameGeorge Robert Bayne Giles
Born(1913-12-21)21 December 1913
Wanganui, New Zealand[1]
Died11 July 1973(1973-07-11) (aged 59)
Wanganui, New Zealand
Team information
DisciplineTrack, road
Medal record
Representing  New Zealand
British Empire Games
Bronze medal – third place 1938 Sydney Sprint

Giles was born in Christchurch where he worked in a cycle shop, then as a barman at a hotel.[3] After being initially overlooked for selection due to his times not being "up to the required standard",[4] he represented New Zealand at the 1936 Summer Olympics at Berlin in the sprint, 1000 m time trial, and in the road race. At the 1938 British Empire Games in Sydney he won the bronze medal in the sprint and placed ninth in the time trial.[1]

He died suddenly in Wanganui on 11 July 1973 aged 59, leaving a wife and four sons.[3][5]

References

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  1. ^ a b George Giles. sports-reference.com
  2. ^ Des Williams (2006). Born to Thunder: Champions of New Zealand Cycling. Last Side Publishing, Hamilton. p. 9. ISBN 0-473-10929-8.
  3. ^ a b Item in Evening Post of 16 July 1973
  4. ^ "Olympic Games". The Press. Vol. LXXII, no. 21740. 24 March 1936. p. 15. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  5. ^ "Olympian dies". Auckland Star. 13 July 1973. p. 3.