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Pat McDonald (shot putter)

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American shot putter

Pat McDonald
McDonald in 1912
Personal information
NicknameBabe
BornJuly 26, 1878
Killard, County Clare, Ireland
DiedMay 16, 1954(1954-05-16) (aged 75)
New York, New York, United States
Height6 ft 2.5 in (1.89 m)
Weight265 lb (120 kg)
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1912 Stockholm Shot put
Gold medal – first place 1920 Antwerp 56 lb weight throw
Silver medal – second place 1912 Stockholm Two handed shot put
Updated on 30 July 2015

Patrick Joseph McDonald (born McDonnell; July 29, 1878 – May 16, 1954) was born in Doonbeg, County Clare, Ireland. He competed as an American track and field athlete in a variety of the throwing events. He was a member of the Irish American Athletic Club and of the New York City Police Department, working as a traffic cop in Times Square for many years. He was part of a group of Irish-American athletes known as the "Irish Whales."

Biography

The tombstone of Pat McDonald in Gate of Heaven Cemetery
Pat McDonald Memorial at White Strand, Doonbeg, County Clare, Ireland

He competed for the United States in the 1912 Summer Olympics held in Stockholm, Sweden in the shot put where he won the gold medal. He also took part in the shot put (both hands) competition where the distance thrown with each hand was added together. This was the only time this event was held in the Olympic program, and McDonald finished second behind teammate Ralph Rose who had finished second to him in the shot competition.

McDonald returned 8 years later after World War I to compete in the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium. Here he won the gold medal in the 56 lb weight throw in the second and final time this competition was held in the Olympic program.

McDonald continued to be a nationally competitive athlete well into his 50s. At the age of 54, McDonald beat his old rival Matt McGrath to win the weight throw for distance at the 1933 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. It was his 26th senior national championship meet, and the Omaha World-Herald noted that he had gray hair at the time of his last victory.

Pat McDonald died in 1954 at age 75 and was interred at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York.

He was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2012.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Pat McDonald". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  2. "Pat McDonald". Olympedia. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  3. "McDonald Wins Again". Omaha World-Herald. 1 July 1933. p. 25. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  4. "McDonald Defeats McGrath in Weights". The Minneapolis Journal. 2 July 1933. p. 91. Retrieved 16 December 2024.

Sources

External links

Olympic Games
Preceded byGeorge Bonhag Flagbearer for  United States
Antwerpen 1920 		Succeeded byTaffy Abel
Preceded byTaffy Abel Flagbearer for  United States
Paris 1924 		Succeeded byGodfrey Dewey
Olympic champions in men's shot put
Olympic champions in men's throws (defunct events)
Two handed shot put
Greek style discus throw
Two handed discus throw
Stone throw
56 pounds weight throw
Freestyle javelin throw
Two handed javelin throw
USA Indoor Track and Field Championships winners in men's shot put (8 lb, 12 lb, 16 lb, 24 lb)
8-lb shot put
12-lb shot put
16-lb shot put
24-lb shot put
Notes* From 1906 to 1979, events were conducted by the Amateur Athletic Union. Events from 1980 to 1992 were conducted under The Athletics Congress. Events thereafter were conducted by USA Track & Field.
USA Indoor Track and Field Championships winners in men's 35-lb weight throw (56-lb weight throw for height)
56 lb weight throw for height
35 lb weight throw
Notes* From 1906 to 1979, events were conducted by the Amateur Athletic Union. Events from 1980 to 1992 were conducted under The Athletics Congress. Events thereafter were conducted by USA Track & Field.
US National Championship winners in men's shot put
1876–1878
New York Athletic Club
1879–1888
NAAAA
1888–1979
Amateur Athletic Union
1980–1992
The Athletics Congress
1993–onwards
USA Track & Field
Notes
  • Note 1: In 1888 both the NAAAA and the AAU held championships
  • OT: The 1920, 1928, 1932, and since 1992, championships incorporated the Olympic Trials, otherwise held as a discrete event.
  • 2020 OT: The 2020 Olympic Trials were delayed and held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
US National Championship winners in men's weight throw
1876-1878 – NYAC
1879-1888 - NAAAA
1888-1979
Amateur Athletic Union
1920 USA Olympic track and field team
Track/road/cross country
athletes
Field/combined event
athletes
Coaches and trainers
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