Features
IRISH OLYMPIANS IN TRACK
AND FIELD
The following is a list of all
athletes who competed for Ireland since the foundation of the State in 1922,
with their performances, where known. Also shown is a list of Irish-born Olympic medal winners
in Track and Field, prior to Ireland being affiliated, as a
separate nation, to the IOC.
Waterford
athletes and officials are shown in blue. Our club, Waterford A.C. has had
at least one Olympian in every Olympic Games from 1980 to 2000.
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Before 1922
Athens, 1896
No Irish medal
winners
Paris, 1900
John Flanagan (USA), (Moortown,
Kilbreedy,
Co. Limerick) Hammer
1st 49.73m (163ft 1in); Pat Leahy (GB), (Cregane, Charleville, Co. Cork) High jump
2nd 1.78m, Long jump 3rd 6.95m.
St. Louis, 1904
John Flanagan (USA),
(Moortown,
Kilbreedy,
Co. Limerick) Hammer 1st 51.23m (168ft 1in), 56lbs from circle 2nd 10.16m; Martin
Sheridan (USA), (Bohola, Co. Mayo) Discus 1st 39.28m (128ft
10½in); Tom Kiely (IRL),
(Ballyneale, Ck.on Suir) Decathlon 1st 6036pts#; John Daly (IRL),
(Ballyglunin, Co. Galway) 2500m Steeplechase 2nd 7:40.6; James
Mitchell (USA), Emly, Co. Tipperary) 56lbs from circle 3rd
10.13m.
#Tom
Kiely's win in the Decathlon, then known as the "All-Around
Championship" was noteworthy as all ten events were held on the
same day. The events were; 100yds, Shot Putt, High Jump, 800yard
walk, Hammer, Pole Vault, 120yards Hurdles, 56lbs Weight Throw, Long
Jump, Mile. Kiely's performances were as follows: 11.2, 10.82,
1.52, 3:59.0, 36.76, 2.74, 17.8, 8.91, 5.94, 5:51.0. John Holloway
(Co. Clare) was fourth in this competition with 5273pts.
Athens, 1906
Martin Sheridan (USA),
(Bohola, Co. Mayo)
Discus 1st 41.46m (136ft 0in), Shot Putt 1st 12.33m (40ft 51/4in), Standing Long jump 2nd 3.10m,
Standing
High Jump 2nd 1.40m, Stone throw-6.40kg 2nd 19.04m; Peter
O'Connor (GB), (Ashford, Co. Wicklow & Waterford City) Hop,step and jump 1st 14.08m, Long jump 2nd 7.02m;
Con Leahy (GB), (Charleville, Co. Cork) High Jump 1st 1.78m, Hop, step and jump 2nd
13.98m; John McGough (GB), (Co. Monaghan) 1500m 2nd 4:12.6.
London, 1908
John Flanagan (USA),
(Moortown,
Kilbreedy,
Co. Limerick) Hammer 1st 51.92m (170ft 4in); Matt McGrath (USA), (Nenagh, Co.
Tipperary) Hammer 2nd 51.18m (167ft 11in); Con
Walsh (USA), (Carriganimma, Co. Cork) Hammer 3rd 48.51m (159ft
1in); Martin Sheridan (USA), (Bohola, Co. Mayo) Discus 1st 40.89m , Discus-Greek style 1st 38.00m, Standing long jump 3rd 3.23m; Tim
Ahearne (GB), (Direen, Athea, Co. Limerick) Hop, step and jump 1st
14.92m (OR), (WR); John Hayes (USA),
(Nenagh, Co. Tipperary) Marathon 1st 2:55:18 (OR); Con Leahy (GB), (Cregane, Charleville, Co. Cork)
High Jump 2nd 1.88m;
Robert Kerr (CAN), (Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh) 200m 1st 22.6secs; 100m 3rd 11.0secs; Denis
Horgan (GB), (Banteer, Co. Cork) Shot Putt 2nd 13.62m.
Stockholm, 1912
Pat McDonald (USA),
(Born Pat McDonnell, Co. Clare) Shot putt 1st 15.34m, Hammer-Two hands 2nd; Matt McGrath (USA), (Nenagh, Co.
Tipperary) Hammer 1st 54.74m (OR); Kennedy McArthur (SAF), (Dervock,
Co. Antrim) Marathon 1st
2:36:54.
Antwerp, 1920
Pat Ryan (USA),
(Old Pallas, Co. Limerick) Hammer 1st 52.88m, 56lbs from circle 2nd 10.97m; Pat McDonald (USA),
Born Pat McDonnell, Co. Clare)
56lbs from circle 1st 11.27m (OR), Pat Flynn, (Bandon, Co.
Cork) Steeplechase 2nd.
All of the following were in the
colours of Ireland 
Paris,1924
W.J.Lowe, 100m, 200m;
Sean Lavan, 400m, 2nd round ; Norman McEachern,
800m, 2nd round; J.Kelly, 3k Steeplechase; J.J.Ryan,
5000m, 10000m; W.Shanahan, Decathlon; P.J.Bermingham,
Discus; J.O'Grady, Shot Putt; Larry Stanley,
High Jump; J.Connor, Hop, Step and Jump; General Murphy,
Manager.
Amsterdam, 1928
Denis J.Cussen, 100m,
2nd round; L.D.E.Cullen, 200m; Sean Lavan,
200m, 400m, 2nd 1st round, 5th 2nd round; M.J.McEachern, 800m,
2nd 1st round, semi-final; G.N.Coughlan, 800m, 1500m, 3k
Steeplechase, DNF; A.F.Clark, 110m Hurdles; P.Anglim,
Long jump; Theo.D.Phelan, Hop, Step and
Jump, 13.73m; Pat.O'Callaghan, Hammer, 1st, 51.39m; C.O'Callaghan,
Decathlon; R.J.Rowlette, Official; E.C.Fleming,
Official.
Los Angeles, 1932
Robert M.N.Tisdall,
400m Hurdles,1st, 51.7secs (NR);
Decathlon, 8th, 7327pts (6398 on 1985 tables); Pat O'Callaghan,
Hammer, 1st, 53.92m; Eamon Fitzgerald, Hop, Step and Jump, 4th,
15.01m; Michael Murphy, Steeplechase; T. Maloney,
Masseur; Roddy Kirwan, Judge; Percy
Kirwan, Judge.
Berlin, 1936
No team was sent.
London, 1948
Jimmy P.Reardon,
400m, 1st round 48.4secs, 5th S/F 47.8secs; John Joe Barry,
1500m, 8th in 1st round, 5000m, DNF; P.Fahy, 10000m, DNF; D.Coyle,
Hammer; Dave Guiney, Shot Putt, 45ft 7½ins; Cummin
Clancy, Discus, 138ft 6ins; F.P.Mulvihill, Marathon;
J.Paul Dolan, J.P.Reardon, R.J.Myles, C.O'Cleirigh and C.Denroch,
4x400m Relay, DQ; J.S.Palmer, C.Rothwell, Managers; T.Maguire,
coach.
Helsinki, 1952
J.Paul Dolan, 100m,
3rd 1st round, 200m 2nd round 21.9 (NR), 400m 3rd 1st round; J.West,
Marathon, 49th; Billy Morton, Manager.
Melbourne, 1956
Mrs. Maeve Kyle, 100m 6th 1st round 12.48secs, 200m,
5th 1st round 26.57secs; Ron M.Delany, 800m,
1500m 1st 3:41.2 (OR); Eamon Kinsella, 110m Hurdles 4th 1st round
14.6secs; Brendan O'Reilly was selected for the
High Jump but did not travel.
Rome, 1960
Mrs. Maeve Kyle, 100m 6th
1st round 12.5secs, 200m 5th 1st round 24.9secs; Paddy Lowry, 100m 6th
1st round 10.9secs, 200m 5th 1st round 22.1; Ron M.Delany,
800m, 3rd 1st round 1:51.0, 6th 2nd round 1:51.1; Mick Hoey,
5000m 10th 1st round 15:00.0; Frank O'Reilly, 50k Walk;
George McIntyre, Marathon, 22nd 2:26:03; Bertie Messitt,
Marathon DNF; Willie Dunne, Marathon, 42nd 2:33;08; John
Lawlor, Hammer, 4th 64.95m; Louis Vandendries,
Manager.
Tokyo, 1964
Mrs. Maeve Kyle, 400m 4th 1st round 55.4secs,
7th S/F 55.3secs, 800m 5th 1st round 2:11.3, 8th S/F 2:12.9; Noel Carroll, 800m
5th 1st round 1:49.9, 7th S/F 1:48.4; Basil Clifford, 1500m 8th
1st round 3:54.9; Tom O'Riordan, 5000m 9th 1st round 14:08.8; Jim
Hogan, 10000m DNF, Marathon DNF; John Lawlor, Hammer
59.09m 1st round; Louis
Vandendries, Official.
Mexico City, 1968
Noel Carroll, 400m,
6th 1st round, 45.8secs, 800m 3rd 1st round, 1:49.0; Frank Murphy,
1500m 10th 1st round, 3:54.8; John Kelly, 50k Walk DNF; Mick
Molloy, Marathon 41st, 2:48:13; Pat McMahon, Marathon
12th 2:29;21; Brendan Foreman, Manager.
Munich, 1972
Margaret Murphy, 100m
Hurdles 1st round, 15.89secs, Pentathlon 27th, 3770pts; Claire Walsh,
800m 7th 1st round 2:08.98; Mary Tracey, 800m 4th 1st round
2:04.18, 1500m 6th 1st round 4:16.43 (NR);
Fanaghan McSweeney,
400m 5th 1st round, 47.1secs; Frank Murphy, 800m 3rd 1st round,
1:51.1, 5th S/F 1:49.2, 1500m 5th 1st round, 3:43.4; Eddie Leddy,
3k Steeplechase 9th 1st round, 8:47.4; John Hartnett, 5000m
12th 1st round, 14:34.6; Mick Keogh, 5000m 5th 1st round,
13:57.8; Neil Cusack, 10000m 10th 1st round, 28:45.8; Donie
Walsh, Marathon 47th, 2:31:12 ; Des McGann, Marathon
42nd, 2:28:31; Danny McDaid, Marathon 23rd, 2:22:25; Phil
Conway, Shot Putt 16.69m; E.Spillane,
Manager; P.Griffin, Coach.
Montreal, 1976
Mary Purcell (Tracey), 1500m 5th 1st round
4:08.63 (NR); Niall O'Shaughnessy,
800m 5th 1st round 1:49.29, 1500m 4th 1st round 3:40.12; Eamon Coghlan,
1500m 1st 1st round 3:39.87, 1st S/F 3:38.60, 4th Final 3:39.51; Eddie
Leddy, 5000m 11th 1st round 13:40.54 (NR), 10000m 9th
1st round 28:55.9; Neil Cusack, Marathon 55th 2:35:47; Danny
McDaid, Marathon 42nd 2:27:07; Jim McNamara, Marathon
39th 2:24:57; Ronnie Long, Marathon; Des deLoughrey,
Coach.
Moscow, 1980
Ray Flynn, 1500m 6th
1st round 3:42.0; Eamon Coghlan, 5000m 3rd 1st round 13:45.4,
2nd S/F 13:28.8, 4th Final 13:22.8; John
Treacy, 5000m 4th 1st round 13:44.8, 4th S/F 13:40.3, 7th Final
13:23.7, 10000m 1st round DNF; Mick O'Shea, 5000m 10th
1st round; Pat Hooper, Marathon 42nd 2:26:41; Dick
Hooper, Marathon 38th 2:23:51; Sean Egan, Hammer 16th
1st round 63.94m; Liam Hennessy, Manager; Pádraig
Griffin, Coach.
Los Angeles, 1984
Mary
Parr, 400m Hurdles 7th 1st round 61.66secs; Caroline O'Shea,
800m 2nd 1st round, 4th S/F, 8th Final 2:00.77; Monica Joyce,
3000m 5th S/F 8:54.34; Roisin Smyth, 9th 1st round 9:01.69;
Patricia Walsh, Discus Qual. Round 54.42m, 9th Final
55.38m; Regina
Joyce, Marathon 23rd 2:37.57; Carey May, Marathon 28th
2:41.27; Marcus O'Sullivan,
800m 6th S/F 1:46.21 (NR), 1500m 9th S/F 3:39.40; Frank O'Mara,
4th 1st round; Paul Donovan, 4th 1st round; Ray Flynn,
5000m 4th 1st round 13:46.84, 4th S/F 13:40.70, 11th Final 13:34.50; Liam
O'Brien, 3k Steeplechase 8th 1st round 8:31.89, 11th S/F 8:34.90; JohnTreacy,
10000m 5th S/F 28:18.13, 9th Final 28:28.68, Marathon 2nd 2:09.56; Jerry
Kiernan, Marathon 9th 2:12.00; Declan Hegarty, Hammer
1st round 70.56m; Conor McCullough, Hammer 1st round 65.56m;
P.l.Curran, Manager; Lar O'Byrne,
Coach.
Seoul, 1988
Barbara Johnson, 400m Hurdles 6th 1st round
58.61secs; Ann Keenan-Buckley, 3000m 13th 1st round 9:03.10; Ailish
Smyth, Marathon 46th 2:44.17; Marie Murphy-Rollins,
Marathon 57th 2:54.37; T.J.Kearns, 110m
Hurdles; Marcus O'Sullivan, 1500m, 8th Final 3.38.39; Gerry O'Reilly,
1500m; Brendan Quinn, 3k Steeplechase,
9th 1st round, 8:40.87, 11th S/F 8:43.34;
Eamon Coghlan, 5000m; John Doherty, 5000m, 9th
Final; Frank
O'Mara, 5000m; John Treacy,
Marathon DNF; Dick Hooper, Marathon; John Woods,
Marathon; Terry McHugh, Javelin 22nd; Conor McCullough,
Hammer; Carlos O'Connell, Decathlon; Jimmy McDonald,
20k Walk, 17th; Christy Wall, Manager; Siobhan
Treacy, Physiotherapist; Jim Kilty, Declan O'Donoghue,
Coaches.
Barcelona, 1992
Sonia O'Sullivan,
1500m 11th S/F 4:06.24; 3000m 4th Final 8:47.41; Catherina McKiernan,
3000m 8th 1st round 8:57.91; Perri Williams, 10k Walk 37th
54.53; T.J.Kearns, 110m
Hurdles 1st round 13.63secs (NR), 2nd round 13.78secs; Marcus O'Sullivan,
1500m 3:37.07 1st round, 3:37.16 S/F; Frank O'Mara, 5000m 4th
1st round 13:38.79; John Doherty, 5000m 6th 1st round 13:41.27;
Paul Donovan, 5000m 10th 1st round 14:03.79; Sean
Dollman, 10000m 16th 1st round 28:55.77; Noel Berkeley,
10000m 17th 1st round 29:23.58; John Treacy,
Marathon 51st 2:24:11; Andy Ronan, Marathon DNF; Tommy
Hughes, Marathon 72nd 2:32:55; Victor Costello, Shot
Putt 17.15m 1st round; Paul Quirke, Shot Putt 17.01m; Nicky
Sweeney, Discus 57.68m 1st round; Terry McHugh,
Javelin 73.26m 1st round; Jimmy McDonald, 20k Walk 6th 1:25:16,
Bobby O'Leary, 20k Walk DNF; Paddy Marley, Manager; Joe Doonan,
Coach; Ciaran Coakley, Coach.
Atlanta, 1996
Sonia O'Sullivan, 1500m 11th 1st
round, 5000m DNF; Sinéad Delahunty, 1500m 9th 1st round
4:12.52; Marie McMahon, 5000m 14th 1st round 15:59.12; Kathy
McCandless 5000m 10th 1st round 15:55.66; Catherina McKiernan,
10000m 6th 1st round 32:32.10, 11th Final 32:00:38; Susan
Smith, 400m Hurdles 3rd 1st round 55.22secs , 5th S/F 54.93secs (NR);
Deirdre Gallagher, 10k Walk 23rd 45;27.00; Neil Ryan, 100m 7th
1st round, 10.74secs; Gary Ryan, 200m 1st round 20.78secs (NR),
7th 2nd round 20.89secs; Eugene Farrell, 400m, 47.18secs 1st
round; David Mathews, 800m 4th 1st round 1:46.76, 5th S/F
1:47.83; Marcus O'Sullivan, 1500m 6th 1st round 3:38.16; Niall
Bruton, 1500m 3rd 1st round 3:37.42, 12th S/F 3:42.88; Shane
Healy, 1500m 5th 1st round 3:37.28, 11th S/F 3:39.91; Cormac
Finnerty, 5000m 13.54 1st round, S/F ; Sean Dollman, 10000m, 19th 1st round 29:19:03; T.J.Kearns, 110m Hurdles 3rd
1st round 13.67secs, 5th 2nd round round 13.55secs (NR); Sean Cahill,
110m Hurdles 7th 1st round 14.28secs; Tom McGuirk, 400m Hurdles
5th 1st round 50.76secs; Jimmy McDonald, 20k Walk 51st; Mark
Mandy, High Jump 23rd 2.20m; Nick Sweeney, Discus
62.04m 1st round; Terry McHugh, Javelin 72.84m; Roman
Linscheid, Hammer
Sydney, 2000
Sarah
Reilly, 100m, 3rd round 1, 11.56secs,[ht2, -0.2m/s, Reaction
0.181secs]; 7th round 2, 11.53secs, [ht4, +0.7m/s, Reaction 0.185secs]; 200m,
5th round 1, 23.43secs, [ht2, w -0.3m/s, Reaction 0.175secs]; Karen
Shinkins, 400m, 4th round 1, 53.27secs [ht3]; Sinéad
Delahunty, 1500m, 7th round 1, 4:11.75 [ht3]; Sonia
O'Sullivan, 5000m, 1st round 1, 15:07.91 (SB), [ht1, 16
competitors]; 2nd final, 14:41.02 (NR); 10,000m,
7th round 1 32:29.93; [ht1] 22 competitors; 6th final, 30:53.37 (NR)
[20 competitors]; Rosemary Ryan, 5000m, 8th round 1, 15:33.05
[ht1, 16 competitors]; Breda Dennehy-Willis, 5000m, 13th
round 1, 15:49.58 [ht3, 17 competitors]; Susan
Smith-Walsh, 400mH, 4th round 1, 57.08secs; Gillian
O'Sullivan, 20k Walk,
10th, 1:33.10, [57 competitors]; Relay, 4x400m,
Women, 6th round 1, 3:32.24 (NR), (Karen
Shinkins, Martina McCarthy, Emily Maher, Ciara Sheehy}; Paul Brizzell, 100m, 4th
round 1 (ht4, -0.4m/s), 10.62secs, Reaction 0.205secs; 200m,
4th round 1, 20.98secs, [ht9, w -0.1m/s, Reaction 0.178secs]; Tomás
Coman, 400m, 5th round 1,
46.17secs; David Matthews, 800m, 5th round 1, 1:48.77secs
[ht2]; James
Nolan, 9th round 1, 3:40.50,
[ht1, 12 competitors]; Mark
Carroll, 5000m, 7th round 1, 13:30.60 [ht2]; Peter
Coghlan, 110mH, 6th round 1, 14.03secs,
[ht2, +0.4m/s, Reaction 0.198secs]; 7th round 2, 13.86secs (SB), [ht4, w
+0.3m/s, Reaction 0.182secs]; Tom McGuirk, 400mH, 7th
round 1, 51.73secs, [ht4]; John Menton, Discus, 20th
qual group A, 54.21m, [x, 54.21m, 50.29m], 23
competitors; Nicky Sweeney, Discus,
18th qual group B, 57.37m, [56.73m,
56.24m, 57.37m], 23 competitors;
Terry McHugh, Javelin,
13th qual group A, 79.90m [79.90m, 77.33m,
79.40m], 18 competitors; Paddy
McGrath, Hammer, 20th qual group A, 67.00m, [67.00m, 64.09m, 64.35m, ]
22 competitors; Brendan Reilly, High Jump, 11th qual group B,
2.20m, [17 competitors]; Robert Heffernan, 20k
Walk, 28th, 1:26.04 [48 starters]; Jamie Costin, 50k Walk,
38th, 4:24.52 [56 starters]; Relay, 4x100m, Men, 4th
round 1, 39.26secs (NR) [ht3], (John
McAdorey, Gary Ryan, Tom Comyns, Paul Brizzell) ; Relay, 4x400m,
Men, 3rd round 1, 3:07.42, (Paul McKee, Tomás Coman, Robert
Daly, Paul Opperman).
Athens, 2004
