Oskar Rutt was born on February 26, 1906. There are two versions of the circumstances surrounding his birth. One says that he was born during his parents' voyage to Australia for a cycling tour. Since the ship was flying the English flag, he was considered an English citizen, which is said to have led to difficulties with the authorities later on. The other version, found in Australian newspapers, states that he was born in the home of Mr. John Scott, who lived in Mossman's Bay near Sydney.
From childhood onwards, he accompanied his father to racetracks all over the world. Photos show that he was at his side at the New York Six Day Race as well as at competitions in France. As a logical consequence of these experiences, Oskar Rutt, who trained as a locksmith, also turned to track cycling and became a good sprinter in the amateur class.
In his first two years as a racing cyclist, he competed in 36 races, recording nineteen victories, six second places, and five third places. The BDR sports committee nominated him to participate in the Paris Grand Prix and the World Championships. In 1923, Oskar won the bronze medal at the German amateur cycling championships.
Oskar Rutt, the son of the World Champion
On August 8, 1926, the magazine “Illustrierte Radrennsport” published an article by Erich Kroner entitled “Oskar Rutt Professional Cyclist.” The news came as no surprise, as he had long harbored the desire to follow in his father's footsteps.
For a long time, Walter Rutt did not consider his son tough enough and only agreed to his professional plans after much hesitation. Oskar had a difficult legacy to live up to and was ultimately unable to meet the high expectations. He left his German homeland, settled in Denmark, and earned his living as a radio salesman. In 1933, he married his girlfriend Dagmar, whom he had met three years earlier. The marriage produced three children: Peter (1938-2017), Merete (*1944), and Ester (*1946).
When Oskar Rutt died in 1958, Walter Rutt and his first wife Charlotte are said to have had their first sad reunion in many years at his funeral.