Sprint, Men

The two best amateur sprinters in 1936 were Toni Merkens (GER) and Arie van Vliet (NED). Van Vliet placed second at the World Championships in both 1934 and 1935, to Merkens in the latter year, despite having beaten him in the 1934 semi-finals.

In 1936, only the gold and bronze medal matches were best two of three races. In the semi-finals, Merkens defeated Italy’s Benedetto Pola. The other semi saw van Vliet against the 1932 silver medalist, Louis Chaillot of France. In the first race of the final, Merkens led on the last curve, but van Vliet was about to pass him when Merkens rode him up the bank in a blatant foul. Van Vliet raised his hand in protest and the jury deliberated. But the second race went on before a decision was announced, and it was also won by Merkens. The Dutch team then protested to the Jury of Appeal, but they confirmed the earlier verdict. In an unusual ruling, to say the least, Merkens was not disqualified in the first race, but instead was fined 100 Reichsmarks. While this was not uncommon in professional racing, it was unheard of among the amateurs.

Merkens turned professional only a few days after the Olympic races ended. Later in 1936, van Vliet won the amateur World Championships, and would later win three professional sprint titles – 1938, 1948, and 1953 – and place second as late as 1957.