Sam Mussabini

Scipio Africanus "Sam" Mussabini (6 August 1867 – 12 March 1927) was an athletics coach best known for his work with Harold Abrahams. In total, he led athletes to eleven medals over five Olympic Games. However, in an era where amateurism was prized, he was not officially recognised because he was a professional coach.

Mussabini was born in Blackheath, London of Syrian, Turkish, Italian and French ancestry. He was educated in France, and later followed his father into journalism. In the 1890s he was also a professional sprinter for about five years. In 1894 he coached Bert Harris to the first professional cycling championship the same years he was employed as a cycling coach by the bicycle tyre company Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Company.

Mussabini played billiards to a high standard and reported on matches as a sports journalist during the winter months. In 1897 he co-authored a technical book on billiards and began writing articles for a billiards journal. In 1902, he became its assistant editor and later the joint proprietor and editor. In 1904 he wrote a two-volume book on the technicalities of billiards. He was also one of the top billiard referees.

He coached South African sprinter, Reggie Walker, to a gold medal at the 1908 Olympic Games in London. He coached further gold medal winners at the 1912 Olympic Games, including Willie Applegarth. He was appointed as full-time coach by Polytechnic Harriers from 1913 until his death from diabetes in 1927.

...
Wikipedia