Bernhard Knubel (cyclist)

Bernard Wilhelm Knubel ( born November 13, 1872 in Münster, † April 14, 1957 ) was a German racing cyclist and competed in the first Olympic Games of the modern era in Athens in 1896.

Family

Bernard Knubel was born in Münster as one of nine children of a railway worker. After school, he went as a sculptor in the teaching at the locally renowned artist Wilhelm Bolte, but this profession was able to exercise not long for health reasons. The family of Bernard Knubel cycling was thrilled, as well as his two brothers, John, who later became a sculptor in Dusseldorf, and Anton, who first ran a bicycle shop in Munster, later a pioneering aviator and 1915 was fatal crash.

Sports Career

Six weeks before the Games was issued by the German sub - committee to participate in the Olympic Games in Athens a public appeal, the athletes should report to himself. Knubel received four days before departure, the final decision and was one of the 21 German athletes who traveled to Athens. The travel expenses he had to take part himself, and he did not arrive until a day before the start of the competitions at the destination. He competed in the 100 -kilometer race at the Velodrome Neo Faliro, but had to retire because of calf cramps after about half the distance. In recognition of his participation in the games, he received a bronze medal. Knubel was reported for other races where he did not start.

After sports

After his return from Athens Knubel Bernard took over the bicycle shop of his brother Anton and married. Cycling, he gave up almost completely. In later years Knubel suffered almost total deafness.

The offer of Knubels business was gradually to motorcycles and later expanded to include cars. The "Autohaus Knubel " was the first in Münster and in 1907 had the general representation of Adlerwerke later general representation of the Volkswagen for Munster and Munster country. The company is still family-owned today.