Mouritius "Maurice" Prosper Peeters (5 May 1882 – 5 December 1957) was a
track cyclist from the
Netherlands
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, image_map =
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
, who represented his country at the two consecutive
Summer Olympics
The Summer Olympic Games (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques d'été), also known as the Games of the Olympiad, and often referred to as the Summer Olympics, is a major international multi-sport event normally held once every four years. The ina ...
(1920 and 1924).
He was born in
Antwerp
Antwerp (; nl, Antwerpen ; french: Anvers ; es, Amberes) is the largest city in Belgium by area at and the capital of Antwerp Province in the Flemish Region. With a population of 520,504, ,
Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to ...
, but was raised in
The Hague
The Hague ( ; nl, Den Haag or ) is a city and municipality of the Netherlands, situated on the west coast facing the North Sea. The Hague is the country's administrative centre and its seat of government, and while the official capital o ...
. He died in nearby
Leidschendam
Leidschendam () is a town and former municipality in the province of South Holland of the Netherlands. Along with Voorburg and Stompwijk, it is part of the municipality Leidschendam-Voorburg.
History
The town's name has been in use for centuri ...
.
In 1920, Peeters became amateur world champion in track cycling. One day later he rode the Olympic 1000 m sprint, and of course he was considered a favourite. He lost in the first round, but his second place was enough to progress to the next round. He then won the quarter final and the semi-final. In the final, he rode against two British cyclists,
Harry Ryan and
Tiny Johnson. They tried to make use of their numerical advantage, and Ryan attacked, so that Peeters had to get him back. In the final corner, Johnson should came around the corner to win the race, but Peeters was ahead and kept his lead. After having won the gold medal at the
1920 Summer Olympics
The 1920 Summer Olympics (french: Jeux olympiques d'été de 1920; nl, Olympische Zomerspelen van 1920; german: Olympische Sommerspiele 1920), officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad (french: Jeux de la VIIe olympiade; nl, Spelen van ...
in Antwerp (1000 m sprint), making him the first Dutch individual Olympic champion, he captured the bronze medal four years later in the 2000 m tandem competition, alongside
Gerard Bosch van Drakestein.
See also
*
List of Dutch Olympic cyclists
References
External links
Dutch Olympic Committee
1882 births
1957 deaths
Dutch male cyclists
Cyclists at the 1920 Summer Olympics
Cyclists at the 1924 Summer Olympics
Olympic cyclists of the Netherlands
Olympic bronze medalists for the Netherlands
Olympic gold medalists for the Netherlands
Dutch track cyclists
Cyclists from Antwerp
Cyclists from The Hague
Olympic medalists in cycling
Medalists at the 1920 Summer Olympics
Medalists at the 1924 Summer Olympics
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