Olympic medal record
Men's athletics
Silver medal – second place 1900 Paris High Jump
Bronze medal – third place 1900 Paris Long Jump

Patrick Joseph Leahy (20 May 1877 – 29 December 1927) 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.[1][2]

Leahy was born in Creggane, in the Civil parish of Hackmys, in the barony of Coshma near Kilmallock in County Limerick, near the border between County Limerick and County Cork. He was one of seven brothers all of whom were sportsmen.[1] His brother Con won medals in jumping at two Olympic Games.[3] 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 the British AAA high jump title in 1898 and 1899,[4] and also came third in the long jump in 1899.[5] Leahy also competed internationally in the long jump and the hop, step and jump (triple jump).[1]

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,[6] and the bronze medal in the long jump behind Alvin Kraenzlein and Myer Prinstein,[7] he also finished fourth place in the triple jumps behind Prinstein, James Connolly and Lewis Sheldon.[8]

Eight years later, Leahy was back on the Olympic scene when he competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics, held in London, he entered the high jump again, but unfortunately he only finished ninth in the qualifying so didn't advance to the final, unlike his brother Con Leahy who went on to win the silver medal.[9]

In 1909 Patrick and Con Leahy emigrated to the United States. Patrick died in Chicago in 1927, aged 50.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Pat Leahy". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  2. ^ "Patrick Leahy". Olympedia. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Con Leahy Bio". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  4. ^ "AAA and National Championships Medallists - High Jump". nuts.org.uk. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  5. ^ "AAA and National Championships Medallists - Long Jump". nuts.org.uk. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  6. ^ "Athletics at the 1900 Paris Summer Games: Men's High Jump". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  7. ^ "Athletics at the 1900 Paris Summer Games: Men's Long Jump". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  8. ^ "Athletics at the 1900 Paris Summer Games: Men's Triple Jump". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  9. ^ "Athletics at the 1908 London Summer Games: Men's High Jump". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2017.

External links

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