Galway’s original Olympian – a century on

Galway’s original Olympian

by Tom Hunt

It’s exactly a century ago this week that a Galway man shot his way to the top of the podium to claim two Olympic golds – and still his story remains one of Irish sport’s best kept secrets.

Michael Kelly, who emigrated to New York in 1888, was a member of the USA shooting team at the Olympic Games in Antwerp, where he won two gold medals on August 2 and 3 1920.

Kelly was born in Attymon in 1872 and he worked as a labourer in New York before enlisting in the US Army Engineer Corps in 1893.

In his new career, Kelly reached the status of a master engineer, senior grade and was on a year’s leave of absence in Europe when he died in Koblenz of apoplexy on 3 May 1923.

He became a naturalised US citizen in June 1920 shortly before departing for the Olympic Games where he competed in pistol shooting.

Sergeant Mike Kelly earned his place on the USA team after a rigorous trials process held at Quantico from June 21/23 1920 – a test that featured fourteen civilian and sixteen military triallists, during which ‘a man shot himself on to the team or shot himself off by his own ability.’

Kelly was one of only two military men selected on the USA pistol and revolver team. The team departed for Antwerp on July 6, aboard the Pocahontas transporter and on arrival in the city were quartered in luxury at the Grand Hotel ’where the rooms and food were excellent.’

If anyone has further information on the story of Galway’s Olympian Michael Kelly, the author of this piece – sports historian Dr Tom Hunt – would love to hear from them. You can email him at tomhunt94@gmail.com

Get the full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now. You can also purchase a digital edition here.