Harold Bounsall

Harold Bounsall won his first Canadian national cycling title in 1918 and repeated this feat two more consecutive times. The latter victory earned him a spot on Canada’s delegation to the 1920 Summer Olympics, where he competed in five events, although one, the men’s team road race, was merely a tabulation of the individual results in the individual road race. As Bounsall failed to finish the latter, he (and the Canadians) did not post a result in the form, and he also did not complete the 50 km race.

He was more successful in the sprint, qualifying in the first round by coming second in his heat behind Jerry Halpin of Australia, but was eliminated in round two after finshing behind Maurice Peeters of the Netherlands, the eventual gold medalist. Finally, in the team pursuit, he finished seventh among eight teams, alongside Herb McDonald, Norman Webster, and William Taylor. Bounsall won a final Canadian title in 1923 and then turned to coaching, helping (among others) Torchy Peden compete as a professional. Outside of cycling, he was also active in in speed skating and ice hockey.