John Joe Barry

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameJohn Joe•Barry
Used nameJohn Joe•Barry
Nick/petnamesThe Ballincurry Hare
Born5 October 1925 in Joliet, Illinois (USA)
Died9 December 1994 in Dublin, Dublin (IRL)
Measurements176 cm / 61 kg
AffiliationsClonliffe Harriers, Dublin (IRL)
NOC Ireland

Biography

John Joe Barry attended The Commons National School, and joined the local athletic club, Ballincurry AC, when he was nineteen. Barry went on to win nine Irish track titles, one Irish senior cross country title, one English AAA 3-mile title (1949), one Scottish AAA 3-mile title (1949), and one American indoor mile title in 1950. He won his Irish cross country title as well as an Irish mile and 4-mile title in 1945 with Ballincurry AC. In 1946 he won the 880 yard and mile titles with Civil Service Harriers, in 1948 he won the 880 yard and mile titles with Clonliffe Harriers, and in 1949 he won the 880 yard, mile and 3-mile titles also with Clonliffe Harriers. When he won the 1950 American indoor mile title he then held Irish, English, Scottish and American titles all at the one time. On 9 August 1947, Barry ran 4:15.2 for an Irish mile record, breaking the heralded mark of 4:15.6 set by Tommy Conneff in 1895, which was a world record at the time. John Joe Barry attended Villanova University, where he studied commerce and finance, and graduated in 1954. He spent most of his business career in the United States, but retired back to his native Dublin.

Personal Bests: 1500 – 3:51.4 (1949); Mile – 4:08.6 (1949); 2 miles – 8:59.0 (1949); 3 miles – 13:56.2 (1949); 5000 – unknown.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1948 Summer Olympics Athletics IRL John Joe Barry
1,500 metres, Men (Olympic) 8 h1 r1/2
5,000 metres, Men (Olympic) AC h1 r1/2