Patrick Ryan (athlete)
Pat Ryan (Patrick James " Paddy " Ryan, born January 4, 1883 in Limerick, † February 13, 1964 ibid ) was an Irish -born American hammer thrower. He won at the Olympic Games in Antwerp, the gold medal in his discipline.
Ryan emigrated in 1901 from Ireland to the United States to work at the New York City Police Department. He won from 1913 to 1921 eight U.S. Championships in the hammer throw, his winning streak was only broken in 1918 by its war effort in the First World War in France. At the Olympic Games in Antwerp in 1920 he celebrated his greatest success, the gold medal in the hammer throw. He also won the silver medal in there throwing weight (56 lbs. ).
His imputed in 1913 world record hammer throw of 57.77 meters was broken only in 1937. His record was the first officially recorded hammer throw world record.
Later, Ryan went back to Limerick to operate a farm.