Sir Hubert Opperman OBE is celebrated as a sporting icon of Australian sport, not just the sport of cycling. Oppy as he is more affectionately known was as famous as the great cricketer Sir Donald Bradman and Phar Lap having achieved International acclaim for his endurance feats and numerous long distance World Records in the 1920's and 30's.

One of his greatest achievements was winning the 1931 Paris - Brest - Paris (over 1265km) in just over 49 hours non stop. A French newspaper poll of over a million people voted him the most popular sportsman in Europe.

He also rode from Fremantle to Sydney in 1937 breaking the record by 5 days! His Sydney to Melbourne record of 39hrs 41mins stood for 38 years! Before these superhuman feats he was also crowned a four time Australian Champion.

His fame lives on as Australia's best cyclists each year are celebrated with the greatest accolade 'The Oppy Medal'
#cycle2max #oppymedal

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In 1932 Sir Hubert Opperman was honoured with being the first cyclist to cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge at it’s official opening. 60 years later he was given the honour of being the first cyclist to cross the Sydney Harbour Tunnel also and fresh back from the 92 Olympics in Barcelona Shaun O’Brien, Stuart O'Grady, Stephen McGlede and myself were given the great honour of being by his side in this moment.

I was still young and unaware of the depth of greatness in the achievements of this iconic sporting legend known as Oppy. He was so famous in the 1920’s and 30’s from his legendary cycling milestones that he was held on the same level as Sir Donald Bradman and Phar Lap in the Australian public.

His feats of endurance and records branded him the most popular athlete in Europe and one of his records from Sydney to Melbourne stood for 38 years!

Today the highest accolade a cyclist can achieve in recognition of their performance at the annual cycling awards is the Oppy medal.

Oppy went on to be a minister in politics and after still riding a bike into his mid 80’s he passed away at 91 years of age a couple of months before I got to ride my 2nd Olympics but I’ll always remember the day I got to ride with a sporting legend of our sport.

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