Sam Mussabini
Encyclopedia
Scipio Africanus "Sam" Mussabini (1867–1927) was an athletics coach best known for his work with Harold Abrahams
. In total he coached athletes to a total of eleven Olympic medals over five Olympics. However in an era where amateurism was prized, he was not officially recognised because he was a professional coach.
of Arab, Turkish
, Italian
and French
ancestry. He followed his father into journalism and in the 1890s he was also a professional sprinter for about five years. In 1894 he coached Bert Harris
to the first professional cycling
championship. In 1896 he was employed as a cycling coach by the bicycle tyre company Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Company.
Mussabini played billiards
to a high standard and reported on matches as a sports journalist during the winter months. In 1897 he co-authored a technical book on billiards
and began writing articles for a billiards journal. In 1902, he became its assistant editor and later the joint proprietor and editor. In 1904 he wrote a two-volume book on the technicalities of billiards. He was also one of the top billiard referees.
n sprinter, Reggie Walker
, to a gold medal at the 1908 Olympic Games
in London. He coached further gold medal winners at the 1912 Olympic Games
in Stockholm
. He was appointed as full time coach by Polytechnic Harriers
from 1912 until 1927.
He brought a systematic approach to coaching, rather than just being a masseur. For example, he used the techniques of Eadweard Muybridge
to photograph runners' actions and techniques at the finish.
At the 1920 Olympic Games
in Antwerp he coached Albert Hill to two gold medals in the 800m and 1500m, and Harry Edward, third in the 100m. He coached Harold Abrahams
to a gold medal in the 100m and silver in the 4x100m at the 1924 Olympic Games
in Paris
.
in which Mussabini is played by Ian Holm
.
His proteges won further medals at the 1928 Olympic Games
after his death.
In 1998, the Mussabini Medal
was created, to celebrate the contribution of coaches of UK performers who have achieved outstanding success on the world stage.
In 2011, Sam was inducted into the England Athletics Hall of Fame
.
Southwark Council nominated Mussabini for a blue plaque
at 84 Burbage Road in both 2004 and 2006; however, he has yet to be awarded one.
Harold Abrahams
Harold Maurice Abrahams, CBE, was a British athlete of Jewish origin. He was Olympic champion in 1924 in the 100 metres sprint, a feat depicted in the 1981 movie Chariots of Fire.-Early life:...
. In total he coached athletes to a total of eleven Olympic medals over five Olympics. However in an era where amateurism was prized, he was not officially recognised because he was a professional coach.
Early life and career
He was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
of Arab, Turkish
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
, Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
and French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
ancestry. He followed his father into journalism and in the 1890s he was also a professional sprinter for about five years. In 1894 he coached Bert Harris
Bert Harris
Albert Bert Walter Allen Harris was a professional racing cyclist. He was raised in Leicester and attended Holy Trinity School...
to the first professional cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
championship. In 1896 he was employed as a cycling coach by the bicycle tyre company Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Company.
Mussabini played billiards
Billiards
Cue sports , also known as billiard sports, are a wide variety of games of skill generally played with a cue stick which is used to strike billiard balls, moving them around a cloth-covered billiards table bounded by rubber .Historically, the umbrella term was billiards...
to a high standard and reported on matches as a sports journalist during the winter months. In 1897 he co-authored a technical book on billiards
Billiards
Cue sports , also known as billiard sports, are a wide variety of games of skill generally played with a cue stick which is used to strike billiard balls, moving them around a cloth-covered billiards table bounded by rubber .Historically, the umbrella term was billiards...
and began writing articles for a billiards journal. In 1902, he became its assistant editor and later the joint proprietor and editor. In 1904 he wrote a two-volume book on the technicalities of billiards. He was also one of the top billiard referees.
Olympic athlete coaching
He coached South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n sprinter, Reggie Walker
Reggie Walker
Reginald Edgar Walker was a South African athlete and the 1908 Olympic champion in the 100 metres.-Biography:...
, to a gold medal at the 1908 Olympic Games
1908 Summer Olympics
The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in 1908 in London, England, United Kingdom. These games were originally scheduled to be held in Rome. At the time they were the fifth modern Olympic games...
in London. He coached further gold medal winners at the 1912 Olympic Games
1912 Summer Olympics
The 1912 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, between 5 May and 27 July 1912. Twenty-eight nations and 2,407 competitors, including 48 women, competed in 102 events in 14 sports...
in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
. He was appointed as full time coach by Polytechnic Harriers
Polytechnic Harriers
The Polytechnic Harriers was founded by philanthropist Quintin Hogg in 1883. He was a firm believer in the health-giving and character-building qualities of sport. He also enjoyed taking part in them; especially playing football. He provided the facilities for a range of different sports and...
from 1912 until 1927.
He brought a systematic approach to coaching, rather than just being a masseur. For example, he used the techniques of Eadweard Muybridge
Eadweard Muybridge
Eadweard J. Muybridge was an English photographer who spent much of his life in the United States. He is known for his pioneering work on animal locomotion which used multiple cameras to capture motion, and his zoopraxiscope, a device for projecting motion pictures that pre-dated the flexible...
to photograph runners' actions and techniques at the finish.
At the 1920 Olympic Games
1920 Summer Olympics
The 1920 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium....
in Antwerp he coached Albert Hill to two gold medals in the 800m and 1500m, and Harry Edward, third in the 100m. He coached Harold Abrahams
Harold Abrahams
Harold Maurice Abrahams, CBE, was a British athlete of Jewish origin. He was Olympic champion in 1924 in the 100 metres sprint, a feat depicted in the 1981 movie Chariots of Fire.-Early life:...
to a gold medal in the 100m and silver in the 4x100m at the 1924 Olympic Games
1924 Summer Olympics
The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris, France...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
Doping
It has been alleged that Sam Mussabini recommended the use of strychnine for runners in the shorter track events.Legacy and honours
Mussabini's success at the 1924 Olympics was portrayed in the film Chariots of FireChariots of Fire
Chariots of Fire is a 1981 British film. It tells the fact-based story of two athletes in the 1924 Olympics: Eric Liddell, a devout Scottish Christian who runs for the glory of God, and Harold Abrahams, an English Jew who runs to overcome prejudice....
in which Mussabini is played by Ian Holm
Ian Holm
Sir Ian Holm, CBE is an English actor known for his stage work and for many film roles. He received the 1967 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor for his performance as Lenny in The Homecoming and the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor for his performance in the title role of King Lear...
.
His proteges won further medals at the 1928 Olympic Games
1928 Summer Olympics
The 1928 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam had bid for the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, but had to give way to war-victim Antwerp, Belgium, and Pierre de...
after his death.
In 1998, the Mussabini Medal
Mussabini Medal
The Mussabini Medal was a sports award recognising the coaches of British sports people and teams, named after Sam Mussabini. Mussabini, who died in 1927, is considered to be the first professional coach in sport, breaking the occupations amateur public school roots...
was created, to celebrate the contribution of coaches of UK performers who have achieved outstanding success on the world stage.
In 2011, Sam was inducted into the England Athletics Hall of Fame
England Athletics Hall of Fame
The England Athletics Hall of Fame was launched in 2008 with a panel of experts selecting a list of potential inductees for athletics fans and members of the public to vote on. The Hall of Fame honours those who have made an outstanding contribution to the sport of athletics in England...
.
Southwark Council nominated Mussabini for a blue plaque
Blue plaque
A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person or event, serving as a historical marker....
at 84 Burbage Road in both 2004 and 2006; however, he has yet to be awarded one.