Martin Sheridan: Mayo's Famous Son 1881-1918

The book chronicles Martin Sheridan’s life from his birth to his death in 1918 from the Spanish Flu pandemic. An athlete, a famous Olympian, a New York policeman, a staunch nationalist and an advocate of the diverse nationalities with whom he competed. The book focuses on the social, economic, cultural, political and religious, ethos of the time. The book deals with his success at the Olympic Games in St Louis, in 1904, in Athens in 1906 and in London in 1908 winning nine Olympic medals. Track and Field events were Sheridan’s forte, and he excelled in throwing the discus both in the free and Greek style. He won the all-round championship of the world in Track and Field events in 1905, 1907 and in 1909. He is credited with winning twelve national championships, and more than thirty American metropolitan and regional championships. The darker side of the Olympic Games is covered, drugs, discrimination against women competitors, racism, political interference and the intricacies of sponsorship of the Games. The book in covering the family history, shows the political movements in which they were involved and where Martin Sheridan’s political ideals emanated. A great deal of the material has never been published before.