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13rd World Games of the Deaf in Bucharest, Romania

Opening date: 17 Jul 1977
Closing date: 27 Jul 1977
Nations: 32
Athletes: 1118
Sports: 12


 

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Bobby Skedsmo, 34, of Walnut Creek, California,
Richard Baraona, 29, of Daly City, California and
Bob Morrison, 31, of Fulton, Missouri competed at the 13rd World Games for the Deaf that took place in Bucharest, Romania.

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Richard Baraona - Bobby Skedsmo - Bob Morrison

That was their last participation in the World Games for the Deaf.  There was a dispute at how the official favoring the Italian advanced to the semi finals of 1000-meter sprints so Bobby Skedsmo did not get his well deserved performance by winning the photo finish.

Richard Baraona seemed to have the habit of winning the medal at the 35-kilometer individual time trial.  He earned the bronze medal.  Bobby showed his best performance as 8th place at the individual time trial.  Individual time trials are also referred to as "the race of truth", as winning depends only on each rider's strength, endurance and determination against the clock.

At the 100-kilometer Road Race event, Bobby Skedsmo decided to choose a win or die tact because the course was pretty flat all the way around with a third of cobblestone pavement.  With a newcomer, Bob Morrison gave a well support for him by slowing down the peleton while he had a breakaway twice which did not turn out well because his mates of opponents did not take the challenge of fighting wind resistance.  That left Richard Baraona sat in the pack all the way winning the seventh place.


Bobby Skedsmo, the Deaflympic Cyclist

The picture shows what Bobby had with him to the 1977 Deaflympics in Romania. He stayed in Europe for a month. After the games, he was on tour to Spain and Morocco with Bob Morrison. This got him sick in his stomach because he did not see how he survived and accomplished this way. He did never have a coach and team support. The cycling sport was still innocent and not popular in America until Greg LeMond became the first non-European professional cyclist to win the Tour of France in 1986.

The bikers of today have brung a lot of stuff and things with them to the world championships, Deaflympics, and Tour of Formosa like the following items; allen key, pedal spanner, tubes (minimum 4), 1- spare tire, tire lever, multi-tool, torque key, chain breaker, trainer roller, zip ties, torque wrench (allen 4,5,6), air pump, spoke wrenches, backup wheels (2 wheelsets), backup batteries, cable cutter, cassette remover, cassettes (2 of each: 23x11 and 25x11), nutrition food, snacks (off-bike), 4-5 bottles, two jerseys, helmet, two bibs, and bike case. Whoa, okay, that's enough!

Bobby brought only one good tube with a sew-up kit, hairnet, and minor tools. One water bottle! he still remembers these good old days.

Posted on January 25, 2015


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