Martin Smyth

Belfast’s Martin Smyth struggled to maintain his weight for the featherweight competition at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, and even missed the opening ceremony, preferring a gym workout instead. Smyth did eventually take part but was stopped in the second round of his opening contest against Pentti Hämäläinen of Finland. The Finn was the reigning bantamweight champion, having beaten Smyth’s fellow Ulsterman, John McNally, in the 1952 final.

Smyth was raised in the Falls Road area of Belfast and became a member of the Star Boxing Club, winning the 1955 Ulster bantamweight title. The following year Smyth won both the Ulster and Irish featherweight titles, thus securing a place on the Irish Olympic team. After the 1956 Olympics, Smyth emigrated to California before settling in Seattle. He first fell in love with the USA when touring with the Irish boxing team shortly before the 1956 OIympics.