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James Sarsfield Mitchel (born Mitchell; January 30, 1864 – July 3, 1921) was an Irish-born American field athlete who competed in the 1904 Olympics. He was one of a group of
Mitchel represented
Retrieved Dec 16, 2020
Irish-American
Irish Americans () are Irish ethnics who live within in the United States, whether immigrants from Ireland or Americans with full or partial Irish ancestry.
Irish immigration to the United States
From the 17th century to the mid-19th c ...
athletes known as the " Irish Whales."
Biography
Mitchell was born inEmly
Emly or Emlybeg () is a village in County Tipperary, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical Barony (Ireland), barony of Clanwilliam (County Tipperary), Clanwilliam. It is also an Ecclesiastical parish in the Roman ...
, County Tipperary, Ireland,
Mitchell won the shot put and hammer throw titles at the 1887 AAA Championships. The following year he successfully defended his hammer tile at the 1888 AAA Championships.
He competed in events organized by the Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA; ; CLG) is an Irish international amateur sports, amateur sporting and cultural organisation, focused primarily on promoting indigenous Gaelic games and pastimes, which include the traditional Irish sports o ...
(GAA) and was in the GAA's 1888 American Invasion Tour, where he won a gold and two silver medals at the national championships
A national championship(s) is the top achievement for any sport or competition, contest within a league of a particular nation or nation state. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the be ...
of the National Association of Amateur Athletes of America
National Association of Amateur Athletes of America (NAAA) was formed in 1879. This was the organized body for the Amateur Athletes before the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) took over in 1888.
NAAA History
NAAA formation
After the Amateur Nati ...
. Like many of the GAA team, Mitchell remained in New York City rather than returning to Ireland at the end of the tour.
Mitchel represented New York Athletic Club
The New York Athletic Club is a Gentlemen's club, private social club and athletic club in New York (state), New York state. Founded in 1868, the club has approximately 8,600 members and two facilities: the City House, located at 180 Central Pa ...
at the 1904 Olympics in St Louis, Missouri
St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an Independent city (United States), independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi and the Miss ...
. In the 56 lb weight throw he won the bronze medal. In the hammer throw competition he finished fifth and in the discus throw event he finished sixth.
Spalding Athletic Library
Spalding Athletic Library were a series of sports and exercise books published through "American Sports Publishing Company" from 1892 to 1941. Both brands were owned and founded by American sporting goods manufacturer Spalding (company), Spalding. ...
issued several "how to" books, one being "How to become a weight thrower" by Olympian James Mitchel.Library of CongressRetrieved Dec 16, 2020
References
External links
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, James 1864 births 1921 deaths American male hammer throwers Athletes (track and field) at the 1904 Summer Olympics Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in track and field Irish emigrants to the United States Irish male hammer throwers Male weight throwers Medalists at the 1904 Summer Olympics Olympic weight throwers Olympic tug of war competitors for the United States Tug of war competitors at the 1904 Summer Olympics People from Emly Athletes from County Tipperary 20th-century American sportsmen