Hubert Opperman
An Australian cycling titan whose superhuman endurance rides across continents made him a Depression-era folk hero.
1904–1996 (age 92)·Australian racing cyclist·Birthday: May 29·The Greatest Generation
Biography
In the 1920s and 30s, Hubert Opperman wasn't just a cyclist; he was a phenomenon. 'Oppy,' as crowds from Sydney to Paris roared, specialized in races that broke men—multi-day marathons that tested the absolute limits of human stamina. His legend was built on events like the Bol d'Or, a 24-hour race in Paris he won, and his brutal, record-shattering rides across Australia. He didn't merely win races; he captivated a nation struggling through economic hardship, offering a narrative of gritty, unyielding perseverance. His 1931 ride from Fremantle to Sydney, covering 3,500 miles in under 14 days, was a feat of national celebration. After hanging up his wheels, he translated his fame into a second act as a Liberal politician, serving for over a decade in Australia's parliament. Opperman's legacy is that of a pioneer who pushed the sport of cycling into the realm of epic endurance and became a symbol of Australian toughness.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Hubert was born in 1904, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Hubert Was Born
The biggest hits of 1904
Hubert's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1904Born
New York City opens its first subway line
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1909Started school
Robert Peary claims to reach the North Pole
President: William Howard Taft
1917Became a teenager
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1920Could drive
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1922Could vote
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1925Turned 21
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1934Turned 30
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1944Turned 40
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1954Turned 50
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1964Turned 60
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 70
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 80
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1996Died at 92
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
Key Achievements
- Won the prestigious Paris-Brest-Paris endurance race in 1931, a 1,200 km event, defeating a strong European field.
- Set multiple long-distance records in Australia, including a legendary 1931 ride from Fremantle to Sydney.
- Served as the Federal Minister for Immigration in the Australian government from 1963 to 1966.
Did You Know?
He was knighted in 1968 for his services to politics and sport.
During World War II, he served as a recruitment officer for the Royal Australian Air Force.
A brand of Australian bicycles was named 'Oppy' in his honor during the peak of his fame.
“You can't sprint for 3,000 miles. It's a war of attrition, and the mind must govern the body.”
