Russell Allen (cyclist)
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born |
March 10, 1913 Orwell, Ohio, United States |
| Died | April 2, 2012 (aged 99) |
Russell D. Allen (March 10, 1913 – April 2, 2012) was an American cyclist who competed at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. There he placed fifth in the Men's Team Pursuit, 4,000 metres event alongside teammates Eddie Testa, Ruggero Berti and Harold Ade. Born in Orwell, Ohio, his family moved around several times during his childhood, until they settled in California, where his father died. He was athletically active throughout school and took up an interest in cycling during his junior year of high school. After competing at the 1932 Olympics, he raced professionally until World War II. Allen served as an officer and teacher during the war and found work as an automobile salesman afterwards. He also volunteered at the 1984 Summer Olympics and remained athletically active into his 90s. From 2006 until his death he was the oldest living American Olympic cyclist.
Allen was born in Orwell, Ohio, the son of a baker. At the age of four he moved to Detroit, Michigan, where his father worked as an electrician until World War I. During the war, Allen's father re-enlisted in the United States Navy and, after the conflict, moved the family to Fort Worth, Texas to work at the automobile manufacturing plant for the Texas Star. When the company folded two years later they moved again, this time to Huntington Park, California, in the home state of his mother. He was the middle child of three siblings; his brother was born in Detroit and his sister in California. His father died early of alcoholism, leaving the mother to raise the family.
During his school days, Allen participated in track and field and baseball before becoming interested in cycling during his third year of high school. As a freshman in high school he met future three-time American Olympian Frank Wykoff. He began training with the Crebs Cycling Club of Long Beach, California and Eddie Testa, who would later be chosen as one of his three partners for the Men's Team Pursuit, 4,000 metres event at the 1932 Summer Olympics. He quickly earned the nickname "Legs" while working out with the club.
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