Art Longsjo

Matthew Arthur "Art " Longsjo (born 23 October 1931 in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, † September 16, 1958 in Burlington, Vermont) was an American racing cyclist and speed skater.

Art Longsjo was the only American who participated in both the Summer Olympics as at Winter Games in the same year 1956, he started in Cortina d' Ampezzo in speed skating and was 40th, and in Melbourne in cycling in the team pursuit on the track.

Originally Longsjo speed skaters had been; Cycling, he ran initially only as an exercise. His first big success as a cyclist was winning the race Quebec-Montreal, over 170 miles in 1954, for which he was named the Canadian cyclist of the year. Furthermore, he was often successful in amateur cycling race in North America, such as several times during the championship of Massachusetts. In 1958 he won the Tour of Somerville, the Tour de Saint -Laurent in Canada and a third time Quebec -Montreal. On the way back from this race Longsjo died in a car accident at the age of 26 years died. The reason for the accident to have been a bee flew into the car. While Longsjo asleep, the driver, a school friend of nature tried to punch the bee and lost in a sharp curve and on a wet road control of the car. The car slammed into a telephone pole, which buried itself on the passenger side in the car and Longsjo injured fatally.

1960 hosted his hometown of Fitchburg for the first time the one-day races Fitchburg Longsjo Memorial Race, known today as Fitchburg Longsjo Classic, which now includes four stages, is high class occupied since 1977 and is held for women. Among the winners are Lance Armstrong, Zach Bell and Tyler Hamilton. In addition, in place, a monument to nature Ljongso. In 1988 he was admitted posthumously inducted into the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame.