Jimmy Michael

Jimmy Michael ( born August 18, 1877 Aberaman, † November 21, 1904 on board the ocean liner Saxonia ) was a Welsh racing cyclist.

Jimmy Michael came as also internationally successful cyclist Arthur Linton and Tom from the small Welsh town of Aberaman, where his father ran a butcher's shop. He was only 1.53 meters tall, which is why he was occupied in the contemporary press with attributes such as "dwarf" or " boy wonder ".

With the cycling Michael began at the age of twelve, he subsequently participated in numerous local amateur races. 1894, at the age of 17 years, Michael started in a race on the velodrome of Herne Hill in London, where he noticed and was awarded a contract as a professional. His manager was notorious for his doping tricks Choppy Warburton, who also Arthur Linton had under contract.

Already in his first year as a professional, Michael 1895. On his 18th birthday, in Cologne stayer world champion, after which his relationship with his childhood friend Linton deteriorated However, this died in the same year, six weeks after he won the road race Bordeaux - Paris. The official cause of death typhoid was called, but were suspected of doping by Warburton.

Michael came as a cyclist to wealth, most of which was lost, however, when he joined the equestrian sports and gambling and even turned to self Jockey was. However, due to lack of success, he returned to cycling, but was never able to build on earlier successes. In a practice crash at the Velodrome Friedenau he suffered severe head injuries from which he never recovered. In addition, he began to drink. At a crossing on the "Saxonia " in the United States, he died in alcohol intoxication probably from a stroke. The captain of the ship was the corpse over to the sea, which, however, which is also traveling on the ship Swiss cyclist Jean Gougoltz prevented by he took over the not inconsiderable cost of an overpass.