Con Walsh

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameCornelius Edward "Con"•Walsh
Used nameCon•Walsh
Born24 April 1885 in Carriganimma, Cork (IRL)
Died7 December 1961 in Seattle, Washington (USA)
Measurements183 cm / 97 kg
AffiliationsI-AAC, Queens, New York (USA)
NOC Canada
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 0
Bronze 1
Total 1

Biography

Con Walsh’s first victory in the hammer throw came at a local tournament in his native Ireland in 1900, but by then he was already known as an able footballer and place kicker, as he had played in a first-class, All-Ireland football final in 1899. He repeated this feat in 1901, the same year that he first became the Irish national champion in place kicking. In 1906 he set a world record for distance in the 56-lb. weight throw and became the Irish national champion in five disciplines: the 56-lb. weight throw for height and for distance, the hammer throw, the shot put, and place kicking. Seeking to compete at the Olympics for a country other than Britain, he moved to North America and joined the Irish-American Athletic Club of New York. At a local tournament in June 1907 he bested his own record in the 56-lb. weight throw and then travelled to Canada, where it was noted by The Daily Sentinel of Woodstock, Ontario that he surpassed the world record in the hammer throw in a September practice. He then became the Canadian champion in the hammer throw and broke the national record for height in the 56-lb. weight throw in October. He improved his record at the May 1908 trials for Canada’s Olympic delegation to that year’s Summer Olympics in London, but was not selected to attend. Instead he paid his own way and, at the Games, earned a bronze medal in the hammer throw.

Walsh reset the world record for height in the 56-lb. weight throw several times after the Olympics, including twice in September 1910. He also set a world record in the hammer throw while winning the event at the 1911 United States AAU Championships, but was not selected for the nation’s delegation to the 1912 Summer Olympics because he was not an American citizen. After moving to Seattle to train on the West Coast, he decided to retire from active competition in April 1912. Outside of sports he worked as a police officer, serving as a member and coach of the Seattle Police Force’s track team, and, in retirement, held a job as a doorman at a medical building, where he died in 1961 after falling down an elevator shaft. In 2009 a plaque was erected in his hometown of Carriganima to honor his achievements.

Personal Best: HT – 54.12 (1911).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1908 Summer Olympics Athletics CAN Con Walsh
Shot Put, Men (Olympic) DNS
Discus Throw, Men (Olympic) DNS
Discus Throw, Greek Style, Men (Olympic) DNS
Hammer Throw, Men (Olympic) 3 Bronze
Javelin Throw, Freestyle, Men (Olympic) DNS

Errata

Year of birth also seen as 1881 and year of death as 1942, but we have correct dates per relative contact.