Hubert Opperman

Sir Hubert Ferdinand " Oppy " Opperman (* May 29, 1904 in Rochester, Victoria, † April 24, 1996 in Knox City, Melbourne) was an Australian cyclist and politician. He is considered one of the biggest sports stars of the fifth continent.

Cycling

Hubert Opperman started cycling at the age of eight when he was traveling for the post as a telegram messenger. At age 17, he finished third in a bicycle race and won a bike Malvern Star. The owner was so impressed by Opperman, that he offered him a job. As a result, Malvern Star was one of the most popular brands in Australia due to the success Opper Mans.

Opperman presented over 100 Distance Records and was four times Australian champion on the road in the years 1924, 1926, 1927 and 1929. In 1928 he was chosen by readers of the French cycling magazine L'Auto Europe's Sportsman of the Year and therefore referred the former French tennis champion Henri Cochet to second place.

In the same year he had the Bol d'Or won, a 24 -hour race at the Velodrome in Paris, despite sabotage attempts of his rivals, so he finally had to finish with the bike by his translator the race. In 1931, he won the Paris -Brest-Paris bicycle race over 1166 km in a record time of 48 hours and 23 minutes. He also took part in six-day races as well as in the Tour de France.

1939, with the outbreak of the Second World War, Opperman finished his career as a racing driver to join the army. Cycling, however, he was only 90 years at the insistence of his wife.

Policy

1949 Hubert Opperman was elected to the Australian Parliament, and remained for 17 years Member of Parliament. In 1955, he was also held member of the government and had subsequently multiply various ministerial posts. In 1967 he retired from politics and became the first High Commissioner of Australia in Malta, where he lived for five years.

Honors

Opperman was in 1953 appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire and a Knight Bachelor in 1968.

In 1991 he attended the celebrations of the centenary of the Paris-Brest - Paris and was awarded the Gold Medal of the city of Paris.

Every year will be held in Australia, the Opperman All Day Trial. The Australian " Cyclist of the Year " is awarded the Sir Hubert Opperman Trophy.

The City of Knox City, where Opperman spent his last years of life, dedicated and named several ways in place by race, the Opperman won. Every year in March will be held the festival Oppy Family Run Ride as part of Knox.