Patrick Leahy (athlete)

Patrick Leahy

Personal information
Born	20 May 1877 Cregane, Charleville, Cork, Ireland
Died	29 December 1927 (aged 50) Chicago, Illinois, USA
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event	high jump
Medal record RepresentingGreat Britain Men'sathletics 1900 Paris High Jump 1900 Paris Long Jump

Patrick Joseph Leahy(20 May 1877 – 29 December 1927) was an Irishathletewho wonOlympicmedals (forGreat Britain and Ireland) in thehigh jumpandlong jumpat the1900 Summer Olympics.

Biography

Leahy was born in Creggane, in theCivil parishofHackmys,in thebaronyofCoshmanearKilmallockinCounty Limerick,near the border between County Limerick andCounty Cork.He was one of seven brothers all of whom were sportsmen.His brotherConwon medals in jumping at two Olympic Games.Another brother, Timothy, also jumped competitively.

Patrick broke the British high jump record in Dublin in 1898 with a jump of 6 ft. 4in. (1.93m). He went on to win theAAA Championshipshigh jump title at the1898 AAA Championshipsand1899 AAA Championshipsand also came third in the long jump in 1899.Leahy also competed internationally in the long jump and the hop, step and jump (triple jump).

In the1900 Olympic Gamesin Paris, Leahy took part in three jump disciplines. He won the silver medal in thehigh jumpbehindIrving Baxterof the United States,and thebronze medalin thelong jumpbehindAlvin KraenzleinandMyer Prinstein,he also finished fourth place in thetriple jumpsbehind Prinstein,James ConnollyandLewis Sheldon.

Eight years later, Leahy was back on the Olympic scene when he competed at the1908 Summer Olympics,held inLondon,he entered thehigh jumpagain, but unfortunately he only finished ninth in the qualifying so didn't advance to the final, unlike his brotherCon Leahywho went on to win the silver medal.

In 1909 Patrick and Con Leahy emigrated to the United States. Patrick died inChicagoin 1927, aged 50.

External links

• Patrick LeahyatOlympics.com
• Patrick LeahyatOlympedia
• Patrick LeahyatTeam GB