Pat McDonald

Patrick Joseph McDonald (born McDonnell; July 29, 1878 – May 16, 1954) was an Irish-American track and field athlete. 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 also part of a group of Irish-American athletes known as the "Irish Whales."

Biography

Pat McDonald Memorial at White Strand, Doonbeg, County Clare, IrelandHe 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 , 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.