Frank O'Neill

Biographical information

RolesNon-starter
SexMale
Full nameFrancis Joseph "Frank"•O'Neill
Used nameFrank•O'Neill
Nick/petnamesPuck
Born25 March 1884 in Athlone, Westmeath (IRL)
NOC Great Britain

Biography

Frank O’Neill spent seven years serving with the famous sporting regiment Connaught Rangers in India in the early part of the 20h century, and it was at that time that he found he was a good runner. He won the Army Cross-country Championship in 1910, and a few weeks later ran second in the International Championship in Belfast. O’Neill also won the Army cross-country, one mile, and three miles titles.

O’Neill was the Irish AAA 4-miles champion three years in succession, 1909-11. He also won the English AAAs 10 miles title in 1910 and was the Irish AAA champion over the same distance in 1912.

During World War I, O’Neill had a turbulent time. In the early part of the hostilities he was invalided from the front after being hit by a bullet in his shoulder during fighting at Ypres. He had been involved in heavy fighting from the outbreak of the war, and in March 1918, while attached to The Munsters, was captured by the Germans. He was released, and returned home nine months later. By then, and approaching 40-years-of-age, his serious athletics career was over.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1912 Summer Olympics Athletics GBR Frank O'Neill
5,000 metres, Men (Olympic) DNS
10,000 metres, Men (Olympic) DNS