Olympic Games/ summer, 1948, London/ Jersey. An exceptional - Lot 319

Olympic Games/ summer, 1948, London/ Jersey. An exceptional item. Jersey of the London Olympic kilometer champion (five embroidered rings on chest and back, 27x12), Jacques Dupont (1928-2019). This extremely rare jersey was won by a young French pistard, aged just 20, on August 11, 1948 on the Herne-Hill track, after more than two hours of waiting. At the same Games, he also won a bronze medal in the team road race with José Beyaert and Alain Moineau (see his badges). Building on these achievements, a fortnight later, at the World Championships in Amsterdam, he narrowly missed out on the pursuit title (see medal) to Italian master Guido Messina. Armed with these three immense awards (gold, silver, bronze, which earned him the 1948 "France-Soir" Oscar des Espoirs), he was the guest of honor and star of a major track meeting in Perpignan, and then came the terrible fall. He was wearing this jersey, which bears witness to the tragedy, with its cut sleeves, holes and stains. His skull was fractured, and he was said to be lost to cycling, and worse. This was to misunderstand the methodical, diligent, conscientious champion. By dint of patience and hard work, and perhaps also a little stimulated by the magic of HIS jersey, which he was determined to honor, he gradually emerged from hell, and in 1949, resurrected, he won Paris-Briare. A fine professional road career was to follow. Now covered by a helmet, like Robic and Coppi, he triumphed in the 1954 French championship (2nd Varnajo, 3rd Molinéris), between two great victories in the Paris-Tours classic in 1951 (he was with Dilecta, 2nd Martini) and 1955 (2nd de Bruyne; with the yellow ribbon; hello Tissot). His swan song would come in 1957, with the Boucles de la Seine, and a fine 2nd place in Bordeaux-PAris, as well as in 1958, when he completed his loop by pinning "his" Tour de l'Ariège. There were dozens of other victories and even more places of honour in major races (Paris-Roubaix, Paris-Tours, etc.). Very shy and excessively modest, says André Darrigade, his friend, best man at his wedding, and roommate on the 1953 Tour in the Sud-Ouest team, he was "a beautiful person and a very good rider...". This jersey followed him everywhere, discreetly... It was a kind of good fairy, which there, in a precious corner, would light up his new life as a shopkeeper and volunteer trainer for the Cahors rugby players, then as a retiree. This piece of history and heritage belongs to the saga of Olympic cycling, and not just French cycling, even if, with 100 medals, it makes a serious contribution to France's influence. Of these 100, two were won by our very own Jacques Dupont, the glory of Lézat. In his native village, a huge statue will soon be dedicated to the immense and modest champion he was and remains in our memory. A particularly moving piece of legend, with the stigma of glory and its ups and downs. Family provenance. "An unblemished rider, except for the blood on this jersey". Unis-Sport mark (66x38). With certificate.