Paul NETTLEBECK

Paul Nettelbeck started at the 1908 Olympics over 5 miles and was eliminated in the heats. He was also registered to start in the marathon, but withdrew due to health reasons. The same year he also became German Champion over 1,500 metres and in the marathon. In his youth he was active in the sports of ice hockey, speed skating, swimming, running and cycling.

Nettelbeck was one of the most important long-distance runners and professional cyclists of that time. He became professional in 1912 and was the first runner advertising (with the liniment "AMOL") on the German track and field scene and even was a professional cyclist in the same year. After World War I he was a stayer with pacemakers and set several world records, coach and manager, and after World War II he worked as a trick cyclist. Up to 1928 he earned around 90,000 Goldmarks in his sports activities.

He published two books Vom Marathonläufer zum Radrennfahrer (1924 – From Marathon Runner to Cyclist) and Ein Leben in Rekorden (1962 – A Life in Records). He immigrated to Salzburg in Austria in 1933 to set up the cycling club "Salzburger Radler 1933" (Bikers of Salzburg 1933).

Personal Bests: 1500 – 4:22.8 (1908); 5000 – 16:48.2 (1908); 10000 – 36:05.0 (1907); Mar – 2-49:05 (1914).