News for December 13, 1996


Museeuw wins Belgium's Sportsman of the Year

Reigning Cycling world champion Johan Museeuw was Thursday awarded Belgium's Sportsman of the Year award.

The 31-year old, who is assured of winning the World Cup for the second consecutive year in 1996, also took out the prestigious Paris-Roubaix road race this spring.

Eddy Merckx was the last cyclist to win the prize in 1967.

Charlie Walsh reappointed Australian national track coach

Charlie Walsh has been reappointed Australia's national track cycling coach for next year, the Australian Cycling Federation announced here Thursday.

"Charlie has been national track coach since 1979 and his involvement with the preparation of our athletes for the Sydney Olympics is crucial if we are to be successful in 2000," ACF president Ray Godkin said in a statement.

The decision was made on Sunday at a meeting in Perth to also reappoint former East German Heiko Salzwedel as head road coach and Australian Damian Grundy as the mountain bike trainer.

"Heiko and Damian are continuing to develop Australia's elite cyclists and our standing on a world level and we always welcome their performance as coaches," said Godkin.

Australia performed below expectations with a silver and four bronze medals at the Atlanta Olympics last July.