As a young teenager in 1892, Marshall Taylor began working at an Indianapolis bicycle shop to help support his family. Taylor would attract customers by performing stunts on a bike, dressed in a military uniform. That’s when everyone started calling him "Major." Taylor began entering (and winning) amateur races in 1892, and turned professional in 1896. By 1898, Marshall "Major" Taylor held seven world cycling records, and a year later he took part in the 1899 ICA Track Cycling World Championships in Montreal, finishing first in the one-mile sprint and becoming the first African-American world champion in any sport. Despite his successes, Taylor faced significant racial prejudice throughout his career, but he always remained committed to demonstrating that black athletes could succeed in the white-dominated sport of track cycling.
Pedals to the medals: