Major

It's hard to imagine how different life was only 110 years ago but for a young black man in Indianapolis life was full of daily challenges and prejudice that he was willing to overcome. During the turn of the 20th century the most popular sport in the world was bike racing, countless velodromes were built all over the world and tens of thousands of fans flocked to the stadiums to watch the fastest way a human could move. Before the car, before motorcycles, before the plane these spinters reached speeds of 50-60kms/hr, previously unattainable through any other way.

Bike racing was a solely white sport and in most southern states black athletes were banned from competeing. However that didn't stop Major Taylor, an up and coming star of the sport that turned everyone's head he had a talent for racing that made everyone else look like an amature. He faced countless challenges, groups of racers cheating and conspiring against him but he always advocated fair competion and respect for his fellow racers. He refused to race on Sundays which kept him from winning more than one US and world title but he won nearly every event he competed in and was the most feared man in bike racing.

What draws me to the story of Major was his steadfast morals and respect for everyone he competed against. He definitely was the most revered athlete of his time and was the highest paid one, back in the early 20th century bike racers demanded the highest salaries before the baseball, football, tennis, hockey, and basketball stars of today. He was the victim of many crooked promoters who would sometimes refuse to pay him but there was no question he was a crowd favorite and he could bolt past anyone in a final sprint to the line.

I loved learning about his training and the fact that he didn't train the traditional way, by logging hundreds of miles a week, and he focused his training on sprinting and recovery. Major was well ahead of his time and although he faced challanges I couldn't imagine I think the world is a better, more tolerant place because of him. Not many people remember him anymore but he definitely left an impression on me as a reminder to live my life with respect for others and myself, no matter what life throws at you face it with strength and perform to your very best, thanks Major.