Archbishop Nichols gets cycling tips from Olympic champ first posted 19 July 2004

Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Birmingham received some helpful tips yesterday from 1948 double Olympic bronze medallist Tommy Godwin, ahead of his 235-mile, five-day, charity 'Cycle for Youth' which begins today. Tommy, a vigourous 83 year old, won bronze medals for the 1,000 metres Time Trial, and 4,000 metres Teams Pursuit at the 1948 Olympic Games in London; the first games after the end of the Second World War and the last Olympic Games to be held in Britain. Afterwards, Tommy, who was also manager of the Great Britain Cycling Team at the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth and the 1964 Olympics Games in Tokyo, advised the Archbishop to pace himself and not rush. He said: "The main thing I suggested to Archbishop Nichols was to ride on fairly low gears and peddle as opposed to push." Tommy said: "It's wonderful that Archbishop Vincent Nichols is doing this charity 'Cycle For Youth' ride. The distance he hopes to accomplish each day is quite considerable. It's a challenge. "To be riding with young people and encouraging youngsters to take part in this cycling event is quite admirable." As he left Archbishop's House, Tommy, who is President of the Birmingham Cycling Club, which he formed in the 1960s, revealed: "At the age of 70 I could still get down on the floor and do fifty press-ups and today, at 83 years of age, I can still do 20 press-ups without any trouble!" Archbishop Nichols has already raised £10,000 in sponsorship for the Archdiocese of Birmingham Catholic Youth Service to help special projects for young people.