Tom O'Riordan

Tom O’Riordan was an Irish long-distance athlete and journalist. In 1957, O’Riordan was offered a four-year scholarship by Idaho State University, one of only a few Irish athletes to study in America. He set multiple records for the University, and in 1960, O’Riordan won the NAIA Men’s Cross-Country Championship. In 1963, O’Riordan returned to Ireland, setting more Irish records, and the following year he competed for Ireland in the 5,000 metres at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. During his career in Ireland, O’Riordan won seven senior national cross-country titles, before he became the team coach in 1979. Also in 1979, O’Riordan was inducted into the Idaho State University Hall of Fame.

The same year he competed at the Olympics, O’Riordan also began his career in journalism. As a journalist, O’Riordan covered every Summer Olympics up to and including the 2000 Sydney Olympics. As well as being a freelance writer, O’Riordan worked as the athletics correspondent for the Irish Independent.

Personal Best: 5000 – 13:55.6 (1968).