Martin Sheridan - Olympic Medalist (1881-1918)

One of the greatest contributions to the world of sport at the start of the century was the amazing string of records set by a young Bohola man named Martin J. Sheridan.

The Sheridan homestead is the only existing one in the townland of Bohola today, situated to the left on the Swinford/Castlebar road, just beyond the Treenduff junction.

Martin Sheridan was without a doubt one of Bohola`s most renowned and illustrious sons, several times Olympic Champion in the early 1900`s, but all of the family were successful in various fields.

Shortly after reaching America, Richard and Martin Jr. took their civil service examinations and joined the police force in New York. Andrew started training in the hotel and catering business. They were all interested in sports and took advantage of the elaborate Irish/American clubs available to them at the time.

The brothers took part in various competitions and always created a sensation on the field, usually walking away with the first three places. It became obvious as time went on that Martin was destined to become a number one all-round athlete. Spectators marvelled at his unique strength, speed, and accuracy.

Martin continued to do well in the police force and reached the rank of First Grade Detective in the New York Police Department. But all attention was on his sporting achievements.

This young Bohola man, who stood 6 feet 1 inch, and weighed 191 pounds, had the world at his feet.

One of the few track and field athletes of the past generation who was as good as unbeatable within a fourteen year span, he won hundreds of athletic contests, including five Olympic, twelve National and more than thirty Canadian, Metropolitan and Regional Championships.

The early victories

Martin Sheridan won his first event, a discus throw, in 1901, with a handicap, at the Pastime A.C. in New York in 1902, in his third competition he created a new world record in this event.

In 1904, Martin took the American title with 119' 1.5'' and also took the shotput at 40'9.5''. On the strength of these performances, he was selected to represent America in both events at the St. Louis games.

The St Louis Olympics (1904)

Born on March 28, 1881, Martin Sheridan was just 23 when he made his debut into Olympic competition at St Louis in 1904, and his first Olympic victory was in the discus.

Instead of the anticipated easy victory, he found himself in third place before the final three rounds and faced with a far more difficult battle than he had expected.

The fighter in him refused to give up, however, and he struck back with 125' in his fourth throw, moving into second place. His fifth throw was even better. He sent the discus spinning out to 128'10. 5''. He did not improve in his last throw but neither did his nearest competitor Ralph Rose, and so the competition ended in the first and only tie in the history of Olympic discus throwing.

Three weeks after his win in St Louis, Martin Sheridan took back the sole ownership of the world record with a throw of 133'6. 5'', and this was still the worlds best mark when he left, with the first official American Olympic team, for the Intercalated Olympic Games at Athens in 1906.

One writer at the time described him:"He was the most handsome of the athletes and although he was a giant in size he could run the hundred yards in a little more that ten seconds".

One of New York's 'finest'

Martin attained first place on an eligible list for the NYPD and was appointed a member of the 'finest' in 1906. He helped organise the Police Carnival and Games for the benefit of the welfare fund of the Department which, for many years, was an outstanding athletic event in New York.

The Athens Olympics (1906)

At Athens, Martin had no trouble in winning the discus freestyle. He went over 130' with his first throw, and eventually won with a fraction over 136'.

All during this time, he was very much aware of the troubles in his native country and it grieved him to see the Irish people suffering so much.

He created quite a stir when he rebelled slightly against protocol in Athens. It was customary for athletes partaking in the games to dip the flag of his country while passing the king's stand, but Martin held his aloft in protest at what was happening in his native land.

When questioned at his arrogance, he stated that Ireland had bowed too often, but not anymore. The Greek king was so impressed with the Irishman that he had a statute erected in his honour in Athens, and he also presented him with a gold goblet and vaulting pole.

His second gold medal at Athens came in the shotput. He also won Olympic silver medals in the standing long jump, the standing high jump and stone-throwing, and then a leg injury prevented him from taking an almost certain gold medal in the pentathlon. On his return to New York, sportswriters acclaimed him as the greatest track and field athlete of all time.

Other achievements

In addition to the ten events of the all-round championship, which he won three times with a new world record on each occasion, Martin Sheridan also won championships in the discus throw (free and Greek style), the 56lb. weight for height, the pole vault for distance, the three standing-broad jumps, the standing high jump, and the javelin throw. In his victories, he created sixteen world records.

In 1907, this great Bohola man raised the world discus record to 136'10''. The climax of his athletic career came in 1908 in the Old Madison Square Garden, where he won five firsts, two seconds, and a third place in the national indoor championships, thereby scoring 32 points and creating a new record in two events, a feat unparalleled in the history of track and field competition.

In June 1908, at the American trials for the Olympic Games, he brought a discus throw of 140' in sight with a further world record of 139'6. 5''. Because of his tremendous all-round display in these trials, he was nominated to represent America in every field event at the 1908 Games in London.

The London Olympics (1908)

The great Bohola athlete took three Olympic medals at the games in Shepherd's Bush Stadium - two gold and one bronze. A number of people travelled to London from Bohola for the games to see their champion compete for America.

A return to his roots

Martin visited Ireland in 1908 after the London Olympics. He gave exhibitions at Dundalk, Dungarvan, Dublin, and Ballina. He competed at the Ballina athletic sports, breaking the British record for the pole jump, and he also broke other such records at Jones`Road, Dungarvan, and Dundalk.

Following the exhibition, a banquet was held in the Imperial Hotel, where Martin presented a bamboo vaulting pole to his fellow Bohola man and cousin, P.J. Clarke.