Martin Vinnicombe

{{Short description|Australian cyclist}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}

{{Use Australian English|date=May 2015}}

{{Infobox cyclist

| name = Martin Vinnicombe

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| fullname = James Martin Vinnicombe

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|12|5|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

| height =

| weight = 86kg

| currentteam =

| discipline = Track

| role = Rider

| ridertype = Sprinter

| amateuryears1 =

| amateurteam1 =

| proyears1 = 1992–1994

| proteam1 = Giramondo Cycles & Clarence Street Cyclery

| majorwins =

| show-medals = yes

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalSport | Men's track cycling }}

{{MedalCountry | {{AUS}} }}

{{MedalCompetition | Olympic Games }}

{{MedalSilver | 1988 Seoul | 1 km time trial }}

{{MedalCompetition | World Championships (Amateur) }}

{{MedalGold | 1987 Vienna | 1 km time trial }}

{{MedalSilver| 1986 Colorado Springs | 1 km time trial }}

{{MedalSilver | 1989 Lyon | 1 km time trial }}

{{MedalSilver | 1990 Maebashi | 1 km time trial }}

{{MedalBronze|1985 Bassano del Grappa | 1 km time trial }}

{{MedalCompetition | Commonwealth Games }}

{{MedalGold | 1986 Edinburgh | Time trial }}

{{MedalGold | 1990 Auckland | Time trial }}

}}

James “Martin” Vinnicombe (born 5 December 1964) is an Australian former professional track cyclist who competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, winning a silver medal in {{convert|1000|m}} time trial.{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/vi/martin-vinnicombe-1.html |title=Martin Vinnicombe |accessdate=8 July 2016}} He tested positive for steroids in 1991, but accusations were overturned and Vinnicombe received $240,000 in compensation for false allegations in defamation. His former manager, Phill Bates, told the Sydney Morning Herald in 1996: "If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying."{{cite news |first=Jeff |last=Wells |title=DRUG RUNNERS; How cheating athletes beat the system The new Olympic challenges: tackling the dopers, keeping a lid on growth and containing commercialism |work=Sydney Morning Herald |page=32 |date=1996-07-20 }}[https://web.archive.org/web/20000928233733/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/1998/int/980727/sport.just_say_go.the_la5.html Time.com article] At 22 years of age, Vinnicombe won the world championship in {{convert|1|km|abbr=on}} time trial in 1987, being the first ever Australian to become world champion, He also won the silver medal three times (1986, 1989 and 1990) and the bronze medal once (1985). Vinnicombe has placed 9 times at the world championships in 1,000m time trial event.

As part of the lead up to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Vinnicombe had been selected to be in charge of coaching Chinese cyclists in the Fujian province, but in 2005 was banned from the country for four years and fined after one of his cyclists tested positive for steroids but was overturned and received compensation for false charges, Vinnicombe denied any wrongdoing.[https://www.theage.com.au/sport/vinnicombe-nonplussed-about-chinese-coaching-ban-20050916-ge0vqq.html "Vinnicombe nonplussed about Chinese coaching ban"], The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 January 2021.

In 2012 he was offered to be in the cycling hall of fame.{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/senior-australian-cycling-figure-assisted-injection-alleges-vinnicombe |title=Senior Australian Cycling Figure Assisted Injection, Alleges Vinnicombe |publisher=Cyclingnews.com |date=2005-09-15 |accessdate=2012-11-20}}