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Matt McGrath

Full name: Matthew John "Matt" McGrath
Gender: Male
Height: 6'0" (182 cm)
Weight: 254 lbs (115 kg)
Born: December 18, 1877 in Nenagh, Tipperary, Ireland
Died: January 29, 1941 in New York, New York, United States
Affiliations: NYAC, New York (USA) / I-AAC, Queens (USA)
Country: USA United States
Sport: Athletics, Tug-Of-War

Medals: 1 Gold, 2 Silver (3 Total)

Biography

Matt McGrath made his Olympic début in 1908 at the age of 30 and in 1928, as a 50-year-old, he came within an ace of becoming the only U.S. track & field athlete to compete in five Olympic Games. After finishing second at the 1928 Eastern Olympic Trials, he had an off day at the Final Trials and finished in fifth place. Frank Connor and Ken Caskey, both of whom McGrath had beaten at the Eastern meet, finished ahead of him and made the Olympic team. There was a public outcry over McGrath’s omission from the team and although he went to Amsterdam after a subscription fund had been raised to pay his fare, he was, surprisingly not allowed to compete. Still, McGrath is remembered as one of the great hammer throwers of all time. He won seven AAU titles, set two world records in 1907 and 1911, and his 1912 Olympic record was not beaten until 1936. He also won the AAU 56-lb. weight throw title seven times and, in addition to his three Olympic medals, placed fifth in the hammer in 1920, although he competed with a badly twisted knee.

Personal Best: HT – 57.10 (1911).

Results

Glossary ▪ CSV ▪ PRE
Games Age City Sport Event Team NOC Rank Medal
1908 Summer 30 London Tug-Of-War Men's Tug-Of-War United States USA 5
1908 Summer 30 London Athletics Men's Hammer Throw United States USA 2 Silver
1912 Summer 34 Stockholm Athletics Men's Hammer Throw United States USA 1 Gold OR
1920 Summer 42 Antwerpen Athletics Men's Hammer Throw United States USA 5
1924 Summer 46 Paris Athletics Men's Hammer Throw United States USA 2 Silver

Men's Tug-Of-War

Glossary ▪ CSV ▪ PRE ▪ Event History ▪ Mouseover for column descriptions
Games Age City Sport Team NOC Phase Unit Rank Date Result
1908 Summer 30 London Tug-Of-War United States USA Round One Match #1 2 1908-07-17 Liverpool Police Team-2 1, USA 0

Men's Hammer Throw

Glossary ▪ CSV ▪ PRE ▪ Event History ▪ Mouseover for column descriptions
Games Age City Sport Country Phase Unit Rank D D(M) D(I)
1908 Summer 30 London Athletics United States Final Standings 2 51.18 167-11
1908 Summer 30 London Athletics United States Final Round 2 51.18 167-11
1908 Summer 30 London Athletics United States Qualifying Round 1 QU 51.18 167-11
1908 Summer 30 London Athletics United States Qualifying Round Group C 1 51.18 167-11
1912 Summer 34 Stockholm Athletics United States Final Standings 1 OR 54.74
1912 Summer 34 Stockholm Athletics United States Final Round 1 OR 54.74
1912 Summer 34 Stockholm Athletics United States Final Round Round One 1 52.83
1912 Summer 34 Stockholm Athletics United States Final Round Round Two 1 53.90
1912 Summer 34 Stockholm Athletics United States Final Round Round Three 1 OR 54.74
1912 Summer 34 Stockholm Athletics United States Qualifying Round 1 QU/OR 54.13
1912 Summer 34 Stockholm Athletics United States Qualifying Round Group B 1 OR 54.13
1912 Summer 34 Stockholm Athletics United States Qualifying Round Group B Round One 1 OR 54.13
1912 Summer 34 Stockholm Athletics United States Qualifying Round Group B Round Two 1 foul
1912 Summer 34 Stockholm Athletics United States Qualifying Round Group B Round Three NP foul
1920 Summer 42 Antwerpen Athletics United States Final Standings 5 46.670
1920 Summer 42 Antwerpen Athletics United States Final Round 5 46.670
1920 Summer 42 Antwerpen Athletics United States Qualifying Round 5 QU 46.670
1924 Summer 46 Paris Athletics United States Final Standings 2 50.840
1924 Summer 46 Paris Athletics United States Final Round 2 50.840
1924 Summer 46 Paris Athletics United States Qualifying Round 4 QU 47.055