Robert MCLEOD

Bob McLeod became a successful racing cyclist while working as a telegraph messenger in Toronto in the early 1930s. After winning all three events (half, one, and two mile) at the 1933 national championships, he was selected to represent Canada at the 1934 British Empire Games, where he won the 10 mile scratch race and came in runner-up in the time trial, behind Dunc Gray of Australia. McLeod’s next major stop was the 1936 Summer Olympics, where he finished joint-15th (with South Africa’s Ted Clayton) out of 19 entrants. He was also 9th among 13 nations with the Canadian squad in the team pursuit, 4,000 metres, alongside George Compton, Lionel Coleman, and George Turner. McLeod retired from active competition shortly thereafter and died relatively young, at the age of 45, following complications from an operation. He was made a member of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.