Marshall ‘Major’ Taylor: world champion cyclist

7:28 PMMarshall “Major” Taylor was an African-American cyclist who raced in the late 1800s and early 1900s, establishing several world records.

Born: Nov. 26, 1878

Died: June 21, 1932

His story: Taylor was born in Indianapolis, where his father worked as a carriage driver for a white family. Taylor grew close to the family and ended up moving in with them. He received a bicycle as a gift and went on to perform tricks outside of a bike shop. Taylor would sometimes wear a military uniform, thus his nickname “Major.” He started competing professionally at age 18. His first pro event was a six-day ride at Madison Square Garden in which he finished eighth. Within two years, Taylor held seven world records. He became a national and international champion in 1899, joining boxer George Dixon as the only black athletes to win a world championship at that time. Taylor raced all over the globe, including Australia, but in the United States he could not race in the South because he was black. He faced racism not only from his fellow riders but from also crowds who often threw things at him. He retired at age 32.

Fast fact: Taylor was estranged from his wife and daughter when he died. He was buried in an unmarked grave. In 1948, a bicycle group had his body moved to a cemetery with a plaque to mark his final resting place.

Quotable: “I felt I had my day, and a wonderful day it was too,” Taylor wrote in his autobiography, The Fastest Bicycle Rider in the World.

The Undefeated will profile an athlete each day during Black History Month.