Background
Peter Nelson was born on 26 April 1931 in Black Forest, South Australia, the son of wheelwright and automotive manufacturing engineer Frederick Nelson, and his wife Winifred (née Mostyn).
Peter Nelson was born on 26 April 1931 in Black Forest, South Australia, the son of wheelwright and automotive manufacturing engineer Frederick Nelson, and his wife Winifred (née Mostyn).
He attended the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki as part of the Australian road cycling team in the 190 km event and in the track team for the 4000 m team pursuit. He was educated at Christian Brothers College, Adelaide.
Jim Nester, a dual Olympian took interest in him and encouraged him to train as a road cyclist and to join a club Peter Nelson joined the Sturt Cycling Club, based at the outdoor velodrome at Edwarstown Recreational Ground. His resolution and commitment paid official
At the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Nelson competed in the 190 km event and in the track team for the 4000m team pursuit.
Despite extremely high expectations, the Australian team finished only seventeenth. Many blame this on the interruption to training the team experienced while being accommodated in London.
lieutenant was extremely difficult to train in the congested, populous city. Both returned to Adelaide the following year and retired from their sports.
The couple settled down on an almond orchard outside Mclaren Vale where they raised three children.
Later in life Nelson was involved heavily with the Unley Rotory Club and was instrumental in establishing the Unley Memorial Swimming Pool, where he later taught learn to swim classes. Peter Nelson died of leukaemia on 2 February 1977 aged 45 years old. The Peter Nelson Leukaemia Foundation stands in his honour, established by his widow.