Pat McDonald (shot putter)

Pat McDonald

McDonald in 1912
Personal information
Nickname	Babe
Born	July 26, 1878 Killard, County Clare, Ireland
Died	May 16, 1954(1954-05-16) (aged 75) New York, New York, United States
Height	6 ft 2.5 in (1.89 m)
Weight	265 lb (120 kg)
Medal record Men's athletics Representing the United States Olympic Games 1912 Stockholm Shot put 1920 Antwerp 56 lb weight throw 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

• Mutiny of the Matoika

Sources

• Greenberg, Stan (1987). Olympic Games: The Records. London: Guinness Books. ISBN 0-85112-896-3.
• Kieran, John (1977). The Story of the Olympic Games; 776 B.C. to 1976. Philadelphia and New York: J.B. Lippincott Company. ISBN 0-397-01168-7.
• Police Athletes of the Past: Patrick Mcdonald - Spring 3100

External links

• Archives of Irish America - NYU
• Sports-reference profile
• Olympic biography and photos
• Winged Fist Organization