Paul Michel Pierre Adrien Masson (11 October 1876 in

Mostaganem Mostaganem ( ber, Mustɣanem; ar, مستغانم) is a port city in and capital of Mostaganem province, in the northwest of Algeria. The city, founded in the 11th century lies on the Gulf of Arzew, Mediterranean Sea and is 72 km ENE of Ora ...

– 30 November 1944) was a French

cyclist Cycling, also, when on a two-wheeled bicycle, called bicycling or biking, is the use of cycles for transport, recreation, exercise or sport. People engaged in cycling are referred to as "cyclists", "bicyclists", or "bikers". Apart from two ...

who raced at the

1896 Summer Olympics The 1896 Summer Olympics ( el, Θερινοί Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες 1896, Therinoí Olympiakoí Agónes 1896), officially known as the Games of the I Olympiad ( el, Αγώνες της 1ης Ολυμπιάδας, Agónes tis 1is Ol ...

Athens Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...

. In 1895, Masson's application for the French

World Championship A world championship is generally an international competition open to elite competitors from around the world, representing their nations, and winning such an event will be considered the highest or near highest achievement in the sport, game, ...

national team was rejected until later that same year he won two major races, securing his place on the team. Masson was 19 when he raced in the

in three track cycling events, all on the same day, winning every one. In his first event at the

Neo Phaliron Velodrome The Neo Phaliron Velodrome (New Phaleron) was a velodrome and sports arena in the Neo Faliro District of Piraeus, Greece, used for the cycling events at the Athens 1896 Summer Olympics.Quote from page 194/241: ''The bicycle match took place in the ...

, the 6-lap sprint, there were only three other finishers,

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

Joseph Rosemeyer Joseph Rosemeyer (13 March 1872 in Lingen – 1 December 1919 in Cologne), was a German track cyclist. He competed at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both th ...

having dropped out early on. Masson won the race by two seconds ahead of

Stamatios Nikolopoulos Stamatios Nikolopoulos was a Greek racing cyclist. He competed at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens winning two silver medals. Nikolopoulos competed in the 333 metres and the 2 kilometres races, placing second in each to Frenchman Paul ...

of Greece, and fellow Frenchman

Léon Flameng Marie Léon Flameng (30 April 1877 – 2 January 1917) was a French cyclist and a World War I pilot. He competed at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens, winning three medals including one gold. Olympics Flameng competed in four cycling t ...

. Masson's next race was the 10 km or 30 laps of the track, against five other riders. Both Greek riders collided early on it was left to Masson and his teammate Flameng, and Austrian

Adolf Schmal Felix Adolf Schmal (18 September 1872 – 28 August 1919) was an Austrian fencer and racing cyclist. He was born in Dortmund and died in Salzburg. He competed at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens. 1896 Olympics With a fencing mask, sabr ...

, to battle it out. It went right down to the line with Masson just edging out Flameng. His final race was the

time trial In many racing sports, an athlete (or occasionally a team of athletes) will compete in a time trial against the clock to secure the fastest time. The format of a time trial can vary, but usually follow a format where each athlete or team sets off at ...

which was one lap against the clock. Against seven other riders, Masson finished in 24 seconds, two full seconds faster than Nikolopoulos. After the Olympics he turned professional and changed his name to Paul Nassom, Masson spelled backwards. Without further major successes, his best finish was a third place in the 1897 World Professional Sprint Championships in

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

, Scotland.

References

External links

*
Paul Masson's profile at the British Olympic Committee
{{DEFAULTSORT:Masson, Paul 1876 births 1944 deaths French male cyclists Olympic cyclists of France Cyclists at the 1896 Summer Olympics 19th-century sportsmen Olympic gold medalists for France Olympic medalists in cycling People from Mostaganem Medalists at the 1896 Summer Olympics French track cyclists Place of death missing