Tom Montemage (Veteran)

Buffalo is known around the country for its character, determination and grit; traits that Thomas Montemage demonstrated throughout his life, both on his bicycle and in the community. Born in 1927, Montemage rose from the streets of Buffalo to compete on the world’s biggest stage as an Olympic cyclist.

At a young age, Montemage demonstrated not only raw talent but immense discipline and a profound love for competition. Drafted into the Army near the end of WWII, in 1945, Montemage’s athletic prowess caught the attention of many when he won a cycling competition representing Fort Dix in Crystal Beach. This early victory ignited his dream of competing at the Olympics, and he would go on to turn that dream into reality. He qualified for the USA Olympic team and competed in the 1948 London Games, where he finished 6th in the sprint. In 1952, he finished 1st in the New York State 116-mile U.S. Olympic trial, and he represented the Niagara District in the Olympic trials in NJ where he finished 2nd – qualifying him for the 1952 Olympics Helsinki. He returned to the Olympics one more time, representing the USA in Tokyo in 1964.

One of Montemage’s proudest cycling records was his time of 1 minute and 4.2 seconds for the “½-mile indoor” at Buffalo’s Connecticut Street Armory. Remarkably, this record was set before cycling tracks were banked, adding to the feat’s difficulty.

As an Olympian representing the United States, Montemage competed with some of the world’s finest cyclists. Reflecting on his Olympic experiences, he once remarked, “There’s fun in competition. I didn’t make money. I beat the best in the country, but it didn’t matter. I just had fun. That was the best time to ride.”

While his moments of international glory were significant, it was his commitment to his community and his lifelong love for cycling that truly defined his legacy. Montemage served as a member of the Buffalo Fire Department and could often be seen riding his bicycle to work. He competed well into his 50s, earning gold medals in the Empire State Games as a senior and master cyclist. Montemage trained and rode well into his 70s.

Thomas Montemage passed away in 2014 at 87.