Axel Schandorff became interested in competitive cycling while working as a bike messenger in his youth. In addition to his 1948 Olympic sprint bronze, Schandorff won sprint silvers at the 1946 and 1948 World Amateur Championships. Schandorff was also Danish amateur sprint champion from 1946-49 and won the København Grand Prix (amateur) in 1948. Schandorff turned professional in 1950 and won Danish professional sprint titles from 1950-54. He was later president of the Danish Professional Cycling Union and also acted as a track manager at Ordrup cycling track, one of the oldest cycling facilities in Denmark, opened in 1888. Outside of sports, Schandorff, who trained as a goldsmith, ran his own goldsmith shop in København.
Denmark