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{{Short description|English athletics coach}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
'''Scipio Africanus "Sam" Mussabini''' (1867–1927) was an [[track and field athletics|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.▼
[[File:Willie Applegarth and Sam Mussabini 1912.jpg|thumb|[[Willie Applegarth]] and Sam Mussabini at the 1912 Olympics]]
▲'''Scipio Africanus''' "'''Sam'''" '''Mussabini''' (
==Early life and career==
Mussabini was born in [[Blackheath, London|Blackheath]], [[London]] to a family of [[Syrian people|Syrian]], [[Italian people|Italian]] and [[French people|French]] descent.<ref>{{cite book |title=The English Heritage guide to London's blue plaques : the lives and homes of London most interesting inhabitants |date=2016 |location=[United Kingdom] |isbn=9781910463406 |last1=Heritage |first1=English }}</ref> Mussabini's father, Neocles Gaspard Mussabini (1827–1915), was born in [[Turkey]] to a Syrian father and Italian mother. Mussabini's mother, Aline Farcat (1839–1914), was French.<ref>{{cite book |last=Jenkins|first=Simon P. R.|year=2005|title=Sports Science Handbook: A-H|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZXWrkV9A_KoC&pg=PA163|publisher=Multi-science Publishing|page=163|isbn=0-906522-36-6}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=The New York Times|title=OLYMPIC GLORY IN 'CHARIOTS OF FIRE'|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9802E2D61138F936A1575AC0A967948260|accessdate=27 August 2010|date=25 September 1981}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iKYWAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Neocles+Gaspard+Mussabini+and+Aline+Farcat%22 | title=The Family History Project: Great Great Stories| isbn=9781903365755| last1=Channel| first1=History| date=September 2004| publisher=Bloomsbury Academic}}</ref> The Mussabini family was [[Christian]] and originally from [[Damascus]], Syria. Mussabini's great-grandfather was a Syrian merchant who had altered his original surname, Mussa, to the Italian-sounding Mussabini.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Tames |first1=Richard |title=Sporting London: A Race Through Time |date=2005 |page=143}}</ref> Mussabini's great-uncle, Antonio Mussabini, was the Archbishop of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of İzmir]] from 1838 to 1861. Mussabini was educated in France, and later followed his father into journalism.<ref name=r2/> In the 1890s he was also a professional sprinter for about five years. In 1894 he coached [[Bert Harris]] to the first professional [[cycle sport|cycling]] championship the same year he was employed as a cycling coach by the bicycle tyre company [[Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Company]].<ref name=r2/>
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
▲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.
==Olympic athlete coaching==
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.<ref name=r2/>
==Legacy and honours==
Mussabini's success at the 1924 Olympics was portrayed in the film ''[[Chariots of Fire]]'' in which Mussabini is played by [[Ian Holm]]. After filming, [[Ian Holm]] exchanged letters with living relatives of Mussabini concerned about accuracy.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}
His
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 Mussabini was inducted into the [[England Athletics Hall of Fame]].<ref name=hall>[http://www.englandathletics.org/page.aspx?sitesectionid=1518§ionTitle=Hall+of+Fame+2011+inductees Sam Mussabini]. englandathletics.org</ref>
[[English Heritage]] installed a blue plaque at 84 Burbage Road, [[Herne Hill]], on 11 July 2012.<ref name=r1>[http://www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk/page3693.htm Scipio Africanus ‘Sam’ Mussabini]. plaquesoflondon.co.uk</ref><ref name=r2>{{cite web|url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about/news/mussabini/ |title=English Heritage plaque for Scipio Africanus Mussabini |accessdate=16 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105214236/http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about/news/mussabini/ |archivedate=5 January 2013 }}</ref> The house was Mussabini's home from 1911 until about 1916 and backs on to the [[Herne Hill Velodrome|Herne Hill Stadium]], where he worked as a cycling and athletics coach from the 1890s until his death and trained several medal-winning Olympic athletes, including the young Harold Abrahams.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/discover/blue-plaques/search/abrahams-harold-1899-1978 |title=Harold Abrahams(1899–1978)|accessdate=16 July 2012}}</ref> The plaque was unveiled by Lord [[Terence Higgins, Baron Higgins|Terence Higgins]], who competed in the 1948 and 1952 Olympics, and [[Ben Cross]], who played Abrahams in the film ''[[Chariots of Fire]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.reelviews.net/movies/c/chariots.html |title=Review Chariots of Fire |accessdate=16 July 2012}}</ref>
Mussabini was quoted as saying, "Only think of two things
▲"Only think of two things - the gun and the tape. When you hear the one, just run like hell until you break the other."
==
Sam Mussabini's papers are held at the [[Cadbury Research Library]] ([[University of Birmingham]]), along with the papers of his father, Neocles. This collection includes material related to Neocles Mussabini's journalistic career at the [[The Pall Mall Gazette|''Pall Mall Gazette'']], during the era that its editor [[W. T. Stead]] was involved with the [[Eliza Armstrong case|Eliza Armstrong scandal]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=UoB Calmview5: Search results|url=https://calmview.bham.ac.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=XMS935|access-date=2021-06-21|website=calmview.bham.ac.uk}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.hernehillvelodrome.com/ Herne Hill velodrome The only remaining venue still in use from the 1948 Olympic Games]
{{Chariots of Fire}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mussabini,Sam}}▼
{{Authority control}}
▲{{DEFAULTSORT:Mussabini, Sam}}
[[Category:1867 births]]
[[Category:1927 deaths]]
[[Category:English people of French descent]]
[[Category:English people of Italian descent]]
▲[[Category:English people of Arab descent]]
[[Category:English people of Turkish descent]]▼
[[Category:English athletics coaches]]
[[Category:Cycling journalists]]
[[Category:People from Blackheath, London]]
[[Category:Athletes from the London Borough of Lewisham]]
[[Category:Olympic coaches for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Athletes from the Royal Borough of Greenwich]]
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