Jim Mitchel
Biographical information
| Roles | Competed in Olympic Games • Non-starter |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Full name | James Sarsfield "Jim"•Mitchel |
| Used name | Jim•Mitchel |
| Born | 30 January 1864 in Emly, Tipperary (IRL) |
| Died | 3 July 1921 in New York, New York (USA) |
| Measurements | 187 cm / 100 kg |
| Affiliations | NYAC, New York (USA) |
| NOC |  United States |
| Medals | OG |
| Gold | 0 |
| Silver | 0 |
| Bronze | 1 |
| Total | 1 |
Biography
Until the emergence of John Flanagan, Jim Mitchel was undoubtedly the greatest performer in the weight events that the sport had ever seen. He won a total of 76 national event championships (American, Canadian, English, and Irish) but when he made his Olympic début he was 40 years old and rather past his prime. He was at his best as a hammer thrower and set 11 world records between 1886 and 1892. In addition to competing in three weight events at St. Louis in 1904, Mitchel went to Athens for the 1906 Games, but was unable to compete because he was injured when the boat carrying the U.S. team ran into a severe storm and violent waves. Mitchel later became a well-known sportswriter in New York and an author of several books on polo and rowing.
Personal Bests: DT – 106-8 (32.51) (1897); HT – 145-0 (44.19) (1892); 56-lb. Throw – 35-11 (10.95) (1902).
Results
| Games | Discipline (Sport) / Event | NOC / Team | Pos | Medal | As | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1904 Summer Olympics | Athletics | USA |
Jim Mitchel | |||
| 56-pound Weight Throw, Men (Olympic) | 3 | Bronze | ||||
| 56-pound Weight Throw, Men (Olympic (non-medal)) | 2 | |||||
| Discus Throw, Men (Olympic) | 6 | |||||
| Discus Throw, Men (Olympic (non-medal)) | 2 | |||||
| Hammer Throw, Men (Olympic) | 5 | |||||
| Discus Throw, Handicap, Men (Olympic (non-medal)) | 4 | |||||
| Hammer Throw, Handicap, Men (Olympic (non-medal)) | 3 | |||||
| Tug-Of-War | USA |
Jim Mitchel | ||||
| Tug-Of-War, Men (Olympic) | New York Athletic Club | 4 | ||||
| 1906 Intercalated Games | Athletics | USA |
Jim Mitchel | |||
| Shot Put, Men (Intercalated) | ||||||
| Discus Throw, Men (Intercalated) | ||||||
| Discus Throw, Greek Style, Men (Intercalated) | ||||||
| 1912 Summer Olympics | Athletics | USA |
Jim Mitchel | |||
| Javelin Throw, Men (Olympic) | ||||||
| Javelin Throw, Both Hands, Men (Olympic) |
Special Notes
- Listed in Olympians Who Set a World Record in Athletics (hammer throw – 16 June 1886 - 1 October 1887 and 18 May 1889 - 9 September 1895: 36.40 pre-IAAF (16 June 1886; Limerick, GBR), 36.50 pre-IAAF (9 June 1887; Limerick, GBR), 38.91 pre-IAAF (18 May 1889; New York, New York, USA; Staten Island AC Games), 40.46 pre-IAAF (12 June 1889; Jersey City, New Jersey, USA; Metropolitan AAU Championships), 40.74 pre-IAAF (10 October 1889; Elkton, Maryland, USA; Cecil County Fair), 40.80 pre-IAAF (13 June 1891; New York, New York, USA; New York AC Games), 42.41 pre-IAAF (12 September 1891; New York, New York, USA; Metropolitan AAU Championships), 42.63 pre-IAAF (29 September 1891; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Fall Handicap Games of the Detroit AC; Handicap off scratch), 43.06 pre-IAAF (10 October 1891; New York, New York, USA; Brooklyn Heights AC Handicap Athletic Games; Handicap off scratch. Extra throw after the competition), 43.20 pre-IAAF (18 June 1892; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Open Spring Games of the Bank Clerks AA; Handicap off scratch), 44.21 pre-IAAF (8 October 1892; New York, New York, USA; New York AC Fall Games))