Sean Lavan

Sean Lavan competed in both the 200 metres and 400 metres at the Olympic Games in 1924 and 1928, winning his heat in the 200 metres in Paris. He won 14 titles in the sprints and hurdles at the Irish Athletics Championships from 1923 to 1928. While studying medicine at University College Dublin he won 17 titles at the Irish Universities Athletics Championships and in Gaelic football he won the Sigerson Cup (Irish Universities Gaelic Football Championship) three times. He played Gaelic football for Mayo and Dublin, and during an All-Ireland semi-final in 1921 he initiated the hand-to-toe movement, or ‘solo run’, which is today such an integral part of the game. Lavan also participated in soccer, rugby, boxing, and handball.

Lavan was chief medical officer to the Irish Olympic team in 1952. A commemorative plaque to Lavan was unveiled on 20 October 1996 at his birthplace, which is located not far from the back of the Church of the Holy Family at Cordarragh, Kiltimagh.

Personal Bests: 200 – 22.3e (1923); 400 – 49.2e (1928).