Olympian Mark Whitehead dead at 50
- By VeloNews.com
- Published Jul. 6, 2011
- Updated Jul. 7, 2011 at 3:20 PM EDT
Mark Whitehead: February 14, 1961 - July 6, 2011
Mark Whitehead rides a wheelie during introduction at the LA Invitational, July 1983 - 1983© Tom Moran
USA Cycling has confirmed the death of Mark Whitehead, a member of U.S. Olympic track cycling team in 1984.
Whitehead, 50, died while attending the USA Cycling junior track national championships in Texas, but details regarding the cause of his death were not available.
Whitehead had served as coach and mentor to several successful track and road riders, including multiple world champion Sarah Hammer and U.S. criterium specialist Rahsaah Bahati.
In a brief release issued late Wednesday, USA Cycling noted that it had learned “of the unfortunate passing of Mark Whitehead while in Texas attending the Juniors Track National Championships.
“USA Cycling would like to extend its deepest condolences to family, friends and athletes of the former professional cyclist and 1984 track cycling Olympian.
“No further details are available at this time. ”
Whitehead held 20 national championship titles, including the team pursuit in 1984, which contributed to his selection to the U.S. team for 1984 Los Angeles Games. Whitehead had a reputation as a cagey, but often volatile, track strategist who had, on several occasions, been sanctioned for both on- and off-track outbursts. Whitehead’s reputation as a temperamental rider led fellow competitors to label him with the friendly moniker “Meat Head.”
The nickname was something Whitehead embraced. Ever the jokester, Whitehead would exclaim after a victory, ”Ya can’t beat the Meat!”
Whitehead was among those 1984 Olympians who were targeted in a post-Olympic scandal involving blood-doping, a practice that was, at the time, not prohibited under UCI or Olympic rules. The ensuing scandal led to the eventual adoption of rules banning the practice in all sports that fall under the authority of the International Olympic Committee and, later, the World Anti-Doping Agency. The practice was banned by the U.S. Cycling Federation (USCF) in January of 1985.
He was briefly married to fellow cyclist Rebecca Twigg.
He is survived by his second wife and three children, Ian, Pete and Davey.
Mark Whitehead: February 14, 1961 - July 6, 2011
Mark Whitehead is congratulated by Pat McDonough after winning the 1983 Madison Nationals at Indianapolis, IN 1983© Tom Moran
USA Cycling has confirmed the death of Mark Whitehead, a member of U.S. Olympic track cycling team in 1984.
Whitehead, 50, died while attending the USA Cycling junior track national championships in Texas, but details regarding the cause of his death were not available.
Whitehead had served as coach and mentor to several successful track and road riders, including multiple world champion Sarah Hammer and U.S. criterium specialist Rahsaah Bahati.
In a brief release issued late Wednesday, USA Cycling noted that it had learned “of the unfortunate passing of Mark Whitehead while in Texas attending the Juniors Track National Championships.
“USA Cycling would like to extend its deepest condolences to family, friends and athletes of the former professional cyclist and 1984 track cycling Olympian.
“No further details are available at this time. ”
Whitehead held 20 national championship titles, including the team pursuit in 1984, which contributed to his selection to the U.S. team for 1984 Los Angeles Games. Whitehead had a reputation as a cagey, but often volatile, track strategist who had, on several occasions, been sanctioned for both on- and off-track outbursts. Whitehead’s reputation as a temperamental rider led fellow competitors to label him with the friendly moniker “Meat Head.”
The nickname was something Whitehead embraced. Ever the jokester, Whitehead would exclaim after a victory, ”Ya can’t beat the Meat!”
Whitehead was among those 1984 Olympians who were targeted in a post-Olympic scandal involving blood-doping, a practice that was, at the time, not prohibited under UCI or Olympic rules. The ensuing scandal led to the eventual adoption of rules banning the practice in all sports that fall under the authority of the International Olympic Committee and, later, the World Anti-Doping Agency. The practice was banned by the U.S. Cycling Federation (USCF) in January of 1985.
He was briefly married to fellow cyclist Rebecca Twigg.
He is survived by his second wife and three children, Ian, Pete and Davey.
Mark Whitehead: February 14, 1961 - July 6, 2011
Mark Whitehead is congratulated by Pat McDonough after winning the 1983 Madison Nationals at Indianapolis, IN 1983© Tom Moran
USA Cycling has confirmed the death of Mark Whitehead, a member of U.S. Olympic track cycling team in 1984.
Whitehead, 50, died while attending the USA Cycling junior track national championships in Texas, but details regarding the cause of his death were not available.
Whitehead had served as coach and mentor to several successful track and road riders, including multiple world champion Sarah Hammer and U.S. criterium specialist Rahsaah Bahati.
In a brief release issued late Wednesday, USA Cycling noted that it had learned “of the unfortunate passing of Mark Whitehead while in Texas attending the Juniors Track National Championships.
“USA Cycling would like to extend its deepest condolences to family, friends and athletes of the former professional cyclist and 1984 track cycling Olympian.
“No further details are available at this time. ”
Whitehead held 20 national championship titles, including the team pursuit in 1984, which contributed to his selection to the U.S. team for 1984 Los Angeles Games. Whitehead had a reputation as a cagey, but often volatile, track strategist who had, on several occasions, been sanctioned for both on- and off-track outbursts. Whitehead’s reputation as a temperamental rider led fellow competitors to label him with the friendly moniker “Meat Head.”
The nickname was something Whitehead embraced. Ever the jokester, Whitehead would exclaim after a victory, ”Ya can’t beat the Meat!”
Whitehead was among those 1984 Olympians who were targeted in a post-Olympic scandal involving blood-doping, a practice that was, at the time, not prohibited under UCI or Olympic rules. The ensuing scandal led to the eventual adoption of rules banning the practice in all sports that fall under the authority of the International Olympic Committee and, later, the World Anti-Doping Agency. The practice was banned by the U.S. Cycling Federation (USCF) in January of 1985.
He was briefly married to fellow cyclist Rebecca Twigg.
He is survived by his second wife and three children, Ian, Pete and Davey.
Mark Whitehead: February 14, 1961 - July 6, 2011
Danny Van Haute (left) and Mark Whitehead Mark Whitehead after winning the 1983 Madison Nationals at Indianapolis, IN 1983© Tom Moran
USA Cycling has confirmed the death of Mark Whitehead, a member of U.S. Olympic track cycling team in 1984.
Whitehead, 50, died while attending the USA Cycling junior track national championships in Texas, but details regarding the cause of his death were not available.
Whitehead had served as coach and mentor to several successful track and road riders, including multiple world champion Sarah Hammer and U.S. criterium specialist Rahsaah Bahati.
In a brief release issued late Wednesday, USA Cycling noted that it had learned “of the unfortunate passing of Mark Whitehead while in Texas attending the Juniors Track National Championships.
“USA Cycling would like to extend its deepest condolences to family, friends and athletes of the former professional cyclist and 1984 track cycling Olympian.
“No further details are available at this time. ”
Whitehead held 20 national championship titles, including the team pursuit in 1984, which contributed to his selection to the U.S. team for 1984 Los Angeles Games. Whitehead had a reputation as a cagey, but often volatile, track strategist who had, on several occasions, been sanctioned for both on- and off-track outbursts. Whitehead’s reputation as a temperamental rider led fellow competitors to label him with the friendly moniker “Meat Head.”
The nickname was something Whitehead embraced. Ever the jokester, Whitehead would exclaim after a victory, ”Ya can’t beat the Meat!”
Whitehead was among those 1984 Olympians who were targeted in a post-Olympic scandal involving blood-doping, a practice that was, at the time, not prohibited under UCI or Olympic rules. The ensuing scandal led to the eventual adoption of rules banning the practice in all sports that fall under the authority of the International Olympic Committee and, later, the World Anti-Doping Agency. The practice was banned by the U.S. Cycling Federation (USCF) in January of 1985.
He was briefly married to fellow cyclist Rebecca Twigg.
He is survived by his second wife and three children, Ian, Pete and Davey.
Mark Whitehead: February 14, 1961 - July 6, 2011
Mark "Meat" Whitehead and Danny "Beast" Van Haute were cleaned up by soigneur Hienz Walter after winning the 1983 Madison Nationals at Indianapolis, IN 1983© Tom Moran
USA Cycling has confirmed the death of Mark Whitehead, a member of U.S. Olympic track cycling team in 1984.
Whitehead, 50, died while attending the USA Cycling junior track national championships in Texas, but details regarding the cause of his death were not available.
Whitehead had served as coach and mentor to several successful track and road riders, including multiple world champion Sarah Hammer and U.S. criterium specialist Rahsaah Bahati.
In a brief release issued late Wednesday, USA Cycling noted that it had learned “of the unfortunate passing of Mark Whitehead while in Texas attending the Juniors Track National Championships.
“USA Cycling would like to extend its deepest condolences to family, friends and athletes of the former professional cyclist and 1984 track cycling Olympian.
“No further details are available at this time. ”
Whitehead held 20 national championship titles, including the team pursuit in 1984, which contributed to his selection to the U.S. team for 1984 Los Angeles Games. Whitehead had a reputation as a cagey, but often volatile, track strategist who had, on several occasions, been sanctioned for both on- and off-track outbursts. Whitehead’s reputation as a temperamental rider led fellow competitors to label him with the friendly moniker “Meat Head.”
The nickname was something Whitehead embraced. Ever the jokester, Whitehead would exclaim after a victory, ”Ya can’t beat the Meat!”
Whitehead was among those 1984 Olympians who were targeted in a post-Olympic scandal involving blood-doping, a practice that was, at the time, not prohibited under UCI or Olympic rules. The ensuing scandal led to the eventual adoption of rules banning the practice in all sports that fall under the authority of the International Olympic Committee and, later, the World Anti-Doping Agency. The practice was banned by the U.S. Cycling Federation (USCF) in January of 1985.
He was briefly married to fellow cyclist Rebecca Twigg.
He is survived by his second wife and three children, Ian, Pete and Davey.
Mark Whitehead: February 14, 1961 - July 6, 2011
Mark Whitehead was fourth in line during this team pursuit at at the LA Invitational, July 1983 David Grylls, Harvey Nitz and Brent Emery preceded Whitehead. 1983© Tom Moran
USA Cycling has confirmed the death of Mark Whitehead, a member of U.S. Olympic track cycling team in 1984.
Whitehead, 50, died while attending the USA Cycling junior track national championships in Texas, but details regarding the cause of his death were not available.
Whitehead had served as coach and mentor to several successful track and road riders, including multiple world champion Sarah Hammer and U.S. criterium specialist Rahsaah Bahati.
In a brief release issued late Wednesday, USA Cycling noted that it had learned “of the unfortunate passing of Mark Whitehead while in Texas attending the Juniors Track National Championships.
“USA Cycling would like to extend its deepest condolences to family, friends and athletes of the former professional cyclist and 1984 track cycling Olympian.
“No further details are available at this time. ”
Whitehead held 20 national championship titles, including the team pursuit in 1984, which contributed to his selection to the U.S. team for 1984 Los Angeles Games. Whitehead had a reputation as a cagey, but often volatile, track strategist who had, on several occasions, been sanctioned for both on- and off-track outbursts. Whitehead’s reputation as a temperamental rider led fellow competitors to label him with the friendly moniker “Meat Head.”
The nickname was something Whitehead embraced. Ever the jokester, Whitehead would exclaim after a victory, ”Ya can’t beat the Meat!”
Whitehead was among those 1984 Olympians who were targeted in a post-Olympic scandal involving blood-doping, a practice that was, at the time, not prohibited under UCI or Olympic rules. The ensuing scandal led to the eventual adoption of rules banning the practice in all sports that fall under the authority of the International Olympic Committee and, later, the World Anti-Doping Agency. The practice was banned by the U.S. Cycling Federation (USCF) in January of 1985.
He was briefly married to fellow cyclist Rebecca Twigg.
He is survived by his second wife and three children, Ian, Pete and Davey.
Mark Whitehead: February 14, 1961 - July 6, 2011
Mark "Meat" Whitehead and Danny "Beast" Van Haute enroute to winning the 1983 Madison Nationals at Indianapolis, IN 1983© Tom Moran
USA Cycling has confirmed the death of Mark Whitehead, a member of U.S. Olympic track cycling team in 1984.
Whitehead, 50, died while attending the USA Cycling junior track national championships in Texas, but details regarding the cause of his death were not available.
Whitehead had served as coach and mentor to several successful track and road riders, including multiple world champion Sarah Hammer and U.S. criterium specialist Rahsaah Bahati.
In a brief release issued late Wednesday, USA Cycling noted that it had learned “of the unfortunate passing of Mark Whitehead while in Texas attending the Juniors Track National Championships.
“USA Cycling would like to extend its deepest condolences to family, friends and athletes of the former professional cyclist and 1984 track cycling Olympian.
“No further details are available at this time. ”
Whitehead held 20 national championship titles, including the team pursuit in 1984, which contributed to his selection to the U.S. team for 1984 Los Angeles Games. Whitehead had a reputation as a cagey, but often volatile, track strategist who had, on several occasions, been sanctioned for both on- and off-track outbursts. Whitehead’s reputation as a temperamental rider led fellow competitors to label him with the friendly moniker “Meat Head.”
The nickname was something Whitehead embraced. Ever the jokester, Whitehead would exclaim after a victory, ”Ya can’t beat the Meat!”
Whitehead was among those 1984 Olympians who were targeted in a post-Olympic scandal involving blood-doping, a practice that was, at the time, not prohibited under UCI or Olympic rules. The ensuing scandal led to the eventual adoption of rules banning the practice in all sports that fall under the authority of the International Olympic Committee and, later, the World Anti-Doping Agency. The practice was banned by the U.S. Cycling Federation (USCF) in January of 1985.
He was briefly married to fellow cyclist Rebecca Twigg.
He is survived by his second wife and three children, Ian, Pete and Davey.
Mark Whitehead: February 14, 1961 - July 6, 2011
1983© Tom Moran
USA Cycling has confirmed the death of Mark Whitehead, a member of U.S. Olympic track cycling team in 1984.
Whitehead, 50, died while attending the USA Cycling junior track national championships in Texas, but details regarding the cause of his death were not available.
Whitehead had served as coach and mentor to several successful track and road riders, including multiple world champion Sarah Hammer and U.S. criterium specialist Rahsaah Bahati.
In a brief release issued late Wednesday, USA Cycling noted that it had learned “of the unfortunate passing of Mark Whitehead while in Texas attending the Juniors Track National Championships.
“USA Cycling would like to extend its deepest condolences to family, friends and athletes of the former professional cyclist and 1984 track cycling Olympian.
“No further details are available at this time. ”
Whitehead held 20 national championship titles, including the team pursuit in 1984, which contributed to his selection to the U.S. team for 1984 Los Angeles Games. Whitehead had a reputation as a cagey, but often volatile, track strategist who had, on several occasions, been sanctioned for both on- and off-track outbursts. Whitehead’s reputation as a temperamental rider led fellow competitors to label him with the friendly moniker “Meat Head.”
The nickname was something Whitehead embraced. Ever the jokester, Whitehead would exclaim after a victory, ”Ya can’t beat the Meat!”
Whitehead was among those 1984 Olympians who were targeted in a post-Olympic scandal involving blood-doping, a practice that was, at the time, not prohibited under UCI or Olympic rules. The ensuing scandal led to the eventual adoption of rules banning the practice in all sports that fall under the authority of the International Olympic Committee and, later, the World Anti-Doping Agency. The practice was banned by the U.S. Cycling Federation (USCF) in January of 1985.
He was briefly married to fellow cyclist Rebecca Twigg.
He is survived by his second wife and three children, Ian, Pete and Davey.
Mark Whitehead: February 14, 1961 - July 6, 2011
Mark Whitehead displayed this appropriate tattoo after winning the Great American 50 Criterium in Oak Park, IL in June of 1985 1985© Tom Moran
USA Cycling has confirmed the death of Mark Whitehead, a member of U.S. Olympic track cycling team in 1984.
Whitehead, 50, died while attending the USA Cycling junior track national championships in Texas, but details regarding the cause of his death were not available.
Whitehead had served as coach and mentor to several successful track and road riders, including multiple world champion Sarah Hammer and U.S. criterium specialist Rahsaah Bahati.
In a brief release issued late Wednesday, USA Cycling noted that it had learned “of the unfortunate passing of Mark Whitehead while in Texas attending the Juniors Track National Championships.
“USA Cycling would like to extend its deepest condolences to family, friends and athletes of the former professional cyclist and 1984 track cycling Olympian.
“No further details are available at this time. ”
Whitehead held 20 national championship titles, including the team pursuit in 1984, which contributed to his selection to the U.S. team for 1984 Los Angeles Games. Whitehead had a reputation as a cagey, but often volatile, track strategist who had, on several occasions, been sanctioned for both on- and off-track outbursts. Whitehead’s reputation as a temperamental rider led fellow competitors to label him with the friendly moniker “Meat Head.”
The nickname was something Whitehead embraced. Ever the jokester, Whitehead would exclaim after a victory, ”Ya can’t beat the Meat!”
Whitehead was among those 1984 Olympians who were targeted in a post-Olympic scandal involving blood-doping, a practice that was, at the time, not prohibited under UCI or Olympic rules. The ensuing scandal led to the eventual adoption of rules banning the practice in all sports that fall under the authority of the International Olympic Committee and, later, the World Anti-Doping Agency. The practice was banned by the U.S. Cycling Federation (USCF) in January of 1985.
He was briefly married to fellow cyclist Rebecca Twigg.
He is survived by his second wife and three children, Ian, Pete and Davey.
Mark Whitehead: February 14, 1961 - July 6, 2011
Mark Whitehead displayed this appropriate tattoo after winning the Great American 50 Criterium in Oak Park, IL in June of 1985 1985© Tom Moran
USA Cycling has confirmed the death of Mark Whitehead, a member of U.S. Olympic track cycling team in 1984.
Whitehead, 50, died while attending the USA Cycling junior track national championships in Texas, but details regarding the cause of his death were not available.
Whitehead had served as coach and mentor to several successful track and road riders, including multiple world champion Sarah Hammer and U.S. criterium specialist Rahsaah Bahati.
In a brief release issued late Wednesday, USA Cycling noted that it had learned “of the unfortunate passing of Mark Whitehead while in Texas attending the Juniors Track National Championships.
“USA Cycling would like to extend its deepest condolences to family, friends and athletes of the former professional cyclist and 1984 track cycling Olympian.
“No further details are available at this time. ”
Whitehead held 20 national championship titles, including the team pursuit in 1984, which contributed to his selection to the U.S. team for 1984 Los Angeles Games. Whitehead had a reputation as a cagey, but often volatile, track strategist who had, on several occasions, been sanctioned for both on- and off-track outbursts. Whitehead’s reputation as a temperamental rider led fellow competitors to label him with the friendly moniker “Meat Head.”
The nickname was something Whitehead embraced. Ever the jokester, Whitehead would exclaim after a victory, ”Ya can’t beat the Meat!”
Whitehead was among those 1984 Olympians who were targeted in a post-Olympic scandal involving blood-doping, a practice that was, at the time, not prohibited under UCI or Olympic rules. The ensuing scandal led to the eventual adoption of rules banning the practice in all sports that fall under the authority of the International Olympic Committee and, later, the World Anti-Doping Agency. The practice was banned by the U.S. Cycling Federation (USCF) in January of 1985.
He was briefly married to fellow cyclist Rebecca Twigg.
He is survived by his second wife and three children, Ian, Pete and Davey.
Mark Whitehead: February 14, 1961 - July 6, 2011
Mark Whitehead and former world champion Michael Hubner at worlds at Stuttgart in 2003. | Charles Pelkey photo
USA Cycling has confirmed the death of Mark Whitehead, a member of U.S. Olympic track cycling team in 1984.
Whitehead, 50, died while attending the USA Cycling junior track national championships in Texas, but details regarding the cause of his death were not available.
Whitehead had served as coach and mentor to several successful track and road riders, including multiple world champion Sarah Hammer and U.S. criterium specialist Rahsaah Bahati.
In a brief release issued late Wednesday, USA Cycling noted that it had learned “of the unfortunate passing of Mark Whitehead while in Texas attending the Juniors Track National Championships.
“USA Cycling would like to extend its deepest condolences to family, friends and athletes of the former professional cyclist and 1984 track cycling Olympian.
“No further details are available at this time. ”
Whitehead held 20 national championship titles, including the team pursuit in 1984, which contributed to his selection to the U.S. team for 1984 Los Angeles Games. Whitehead had a reputation as a cagey, but often volatile, track strategist who had, on several occasions, been sanctioned for both on- and off-track outbursts. Whitehead’s reputation as a temperamental rider led fellow competitors to label him with the friendly moniker “Meat Head.”
The nickname was something Whitehead embraced. Ever the jokester, Whitehead would exclaim after a victory, ”Ya can’t beat the Meat!”
Whitehead was among those 1984 Olympians who were targeted in a post-Olympic scandal involving blood-doping, a practice that was, at the time, not prohibited under UCI or Olympic rules. The ensuing scandal led to the eventual adoption of rules banning the practice in all sports that fall under the authority of the International Olympic Committee and, later, the World Anti-Doping Agency. The practice was banned by the U.S. Cycling Federation (USCF) in January of 1985.
He was briefly married to fellow cyclist Rebecca Twigg.
He is survived by his second wife and three children, Ian, Pete and Davey.
