2006 Hall of Fame Inductee
Born in Ireland and later immigrated to the United States, McGrath was included in the group of large and dominant throwers of the era known as the "Irish Whales." Considered world class in the hammer at 27, McGrath remarkably remained in the top ten of the world list until age 50. The winner of seven national hammer titles, McGrath also captured seven indoor weight throw crowns. McGrath won the silver medal at the 1908 Olympics in London and later dominated the competition by winning gold at the 1912 Stockholm Games, where the shortest of his six throws was 15 feet farther than anyone else's best. His longest throw of 54.74 meters/179 feet, 7 inches was an Olympic record that lasted 24 years. McGrath won Olympic silver at Paris in 1924 and held the world hammer throw world record on two occasions. Died January 29, 1941. Events Hammer Throw - 57.10 m Records Held World Record: Hammer Throw - 52.90 m (September 21, 1907) World Record: Hammer Throw - 57.10 m (October 29, 1911) Championships 1908 Olympic Games: Hammer Throw - 51.18 m (2nd) 1912 Olympic Games: Hammer Throw - 54.74 m (1st) 1920 Olympic Games: Hammer Throw - 46.66 m (5th) 1924 Olympic Games: Hammer Throw - 50.84 m (2nd) 1908 USA Outdoor Championships: Hammer Throw - 52.75 m (1st) 1910 USA Outdoor Championships: Hammer Throw - 51.30 m (1st) 1912 USA Outdoor Championships: Hammer Throw - 53.25 m (1st) 1913 USA Indoor Championships: 35-lb. Weight Throw (1st) 1916 USA Indoor Championships: 35-lb. Weight Throw (1st) 1918 USA Indoor Championships: 35-lb. Weight Throw (1st) 1918 USA Outdoor Championships: Hammer Throw - 53.00 m (1st) 1922 USA Indoor Championships: 35-lb. Weight Throw (1st) 1922 USA Outdoor Championships: Hammer Throw - 47.49 m (1st) 1923 USA Indoor Championships: 35-lb. Weight Throw (1st) 1924 USA Indoor Championships: 35-lb. Weight Throw (1st) 1925 USA Indoor Championships: 35-lb. Weight Throw (1st) 1925 USA Outdoor Championships: Hammer Throw - 52.44 m (1st) 1926 USA Outdoor Championships: Hammer Throw - 49.63 m (1st) Occupations New York City Policeman