Graeme Obree

Graeme Obree (born 11 September 1965), nicknamed The Flying Scotsman, is a Scottish racing cyclist who twice broke the world hour record, in July 1993 and April 1994, and was the individual pursuit world champion in 1993 and 1995. He was known for his unusual riding positions and for the Old Faithful bicycle he built which included parts from a washing machine. He joined a professional team in France but was fired before his first race. He also competed in the men's individual pursuit at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Graeme Obree
Obree on Old Faithful
Personal information
Full nameGraeme Obree
NicknameFlying Scotsman
Born (1965-09-11) 11 September 1965
Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight73 kg (161 lb; 11 st 7 lb)
Team information
Current teamFullarton Wheelers
DisciplineRoad and track
RoleRider
Rider typeTime Trial Specialist
Major wins
Track
Individual pursuit, World Championships (1993, 1995)
Hour record holder: 1993 (51.596 km), 1994 (52.713 km)
Medal record
Men's track cycling
Representing  Great Britain
World Championships
1993 Hamar4000 m Pursuit
1995 Bogota4000 m Pursuit

Obree has created some radical innovations in bicycle design and cycling position but has had problems with the cycling authorities banning the riding positions his designs required. Obree has been very open about living with bipolar disorder and depression, and the fact that he has attempted suicide three times, using his experiences as a means of encouraging other sportspeople to talk about their own mental health.

His life and exploits have been dramatised in the 2006 film The Flying Scotsman and more recently in the documentary film Battle Mountain: Graeme Obree's Story, which follows his journey to Battle Mountain, Nevada to compete in the 2013 World Human Powered Speed Championships.

In March 2010, he was inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame.

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