Tom Kiely

Tom Kiely (25 August 1869 – 3 November 1951) was an Irish athlete, best known for winning the gold medal in the all-around competition at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri.

Kiely was born in Ballyneale, County Tipperary, Ireland. Before focusing on the all-around event, he competed in various sports, including long jump, high jump, and weightlifting. His versatility made him a natural fit for the demanding all-around, which consisted of ten events: 100-yard dash, shot put, high jump, 880-yard walk, hammer throw, pole vault, 120-yard hurdles, weight throw (56 lbs), long jump, and mile run.

At the 1904 Olympics, Kiely dominated the competition, winning by a significant margin. He was the first Irish athlete to win a gold medal in athletics at the Olympics. Despite his success, he remained an amateur athlete and did not pursue a professional career.

After retiring from athletics, Kiely returned to Ireland and continued to be involved in local sporting activities. He is remembered as one of Ireland's greatest athletes and a pioneer in multi-event competitions. He was inducted into the Irish Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.