Patrick Leahy (athlete)
Encyclopedia
Patrick Leahy was an Irish athlete who won Olympic
medals (for Great Britain and Ireland
) in the high jump
and long jump
at the 1900 Summer Olympics
.
Leahy was born in Cregane, Charleville
, County Limerick
on the border between County Limerick and County Cork
. He was one of seven brothers all of whom were sportsmen. His brother Con won medals in jumping at two Olympic Games. Another brother, Timothy, also jumped competitively. Patrick won the British high jump record in Dublin in 1898 with a jump of 6ft. 4in. (1.93m). He also competed internationally in the long jump and the hop, step and jump (triple jump
).
In the 1900 Olympic Games
in Paris Leahy took part in three jump disciplines. He won the silver medal
in the high jump behind Irving Baxter
of the United States, and the bronze medal
in the long jump behind Alvin Kraenzlein
and Myer Prinstein
. He finished in fourth place in the hop, step and jump behind Prinstein, James Connolly and Lewis Sheldon
.
In 1909 Patrick and Con Leahy emigrated to the United States. Patrick died there in 1927, aged 50.
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
medals (for Great Britain and Ireland
Great Britain and Ireland at the 1900 Summer Olympics
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland competed as Great Britain at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. It was the second appearance of the European nation, after having participated in the inaugural 1896 Games...
) in the high jump
High jump
The high jump is a track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without the aid of certain devices in its modern most practiced format; auxiliary weights and mounds have been used for assistance; rules have changed over the years....
and long jump
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
at the 1900 Summer Olympics
1900 Summer Olympics
The 1900 Summer Olympics, today officially known as the Games of the II Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1900 in Paris, France. No opening or closing ceremonies were held; competitions began on May 14 and ended on October 28. The Games were held as part of...
.
Leahy was born in Cregane, Charleville
Charleville, County Cork
Charleville or Ráth Luirc is a town in north County Cork, Ireland, situated in Ireland's Golden Vale, near the border with County Limerick. It is located on the "Glen" tributary river, which flows into the Maigue River in Co. Limerick...
, County Limerick
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
on the border between County Limerick and County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
. He was one of seven brothers all of whom were sportsmen. His brother Con won medals in jumping at two Olympic Games. Another brother, Timothy, also jumped competitively. Patrick won the British high jump record in Dublin in 1898 with a jump of 6ft. 4in. (1.93m). He also competed internationally in the long jump and the hop, step and jump (triple jump
Triple jump
The triple jump is a track and field sport, similar to the long jump, but involving a “hop, bound and jump” routine, whereby the competitor runs down the track and performs a hop, a bound and then a jump into the sand pit.The triple jump has its origins in the Ancient Olympics and has been a...
).
In the 1900 Olympic Games
Athletics at the 1900 Summer Olympics
At the 1900 Summer Olympics, twenty-three athletics events were contested. 117 athletes from 15 nations competed. In many countries, due in part to the conflagration of the Olympic Games and the World's Fair in Paris, the media discussed only the athletics events under the "Olympic" name while...
in Paris Leahy took part in three jump disciplines. He won the silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
in the high jump behind Irving Baxter
Irving Baxter
Irving Knot Baxter was an American athlete, who won the gold medal in both the men's high jump and the pole vault at the 1900 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France....
of the United States, and the bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
in the long jump behind Alvin Kraenzlein
Alvin Kraenzlein
Alvin Christian Kraenzlein was an American athlete. He was the first sportsman to win four Olympic titles in a single Olympic Games...
and Myer Prinstein
Myer Prinstein
Myer Prinstein was an American athlete and member of the Irish American Athletic Club...
. He finished in fourth place in the hop, step and jump behind Prinstein, James Connolly and Lewis Sheldon
Lewis Sheldon
Lewis Pendleton Sheldon was an American athlete who competed in jumping events in the late 19th century and early 20th century. He participated in Athletics at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris and won bronze medals in triple jump and standing high jump, as well as fourth place in the standing...
.
In 1909 Patrick and Con Leahy emigrated to the United States. Patrick died there in 1927, aged 50.