James Sarsfield "Jim" Mitchel (born Mitchell; January 30, 1864 – July 3, 1921) was an Irish-born American field athlete who competed in the 1904 Olympics. He was one a group of

Irish-American , image = Irish ancestry in the USA 2018; Where Irish eyes are Smiling.png , image_caption = Irish Americans, % of population by state , caption = Notable Irish Americans , population = 36,115,472 (10.9%) alone ...

athletes known as the "

Irish Whales The Irish Whales or "The Whales" was a nickname given to a group of Irish, Irish-American and Irish-Canadian athletes who dominated weight-throwing events in the first two decades of the 20th century. "This group dominated the field events, par ...

Biography

Mitchell was born in

Emly Emly or Emlybeg () is a village in County Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Clanwilliam. It is also an Ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. It is situated on the R515 ...

, County Tipperary, Ireland, He competed in events organized by the

Gaelic Athletic Association The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA; ga, Cumann Lúthchleas Gael ; CLG) is an Irish international amateur sports, amateur sporting and cultural organisation, focused primarily on promoting indigenous Gaelic games and pastimes, which include t ...

(GAA) and was in the GAA's 1888 American Invasion Tour, where he won a gold and two silver medals at the

national championships A national championship(s) is the top achievement for any sport or contest within a league of a particular nation or nation state. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the best team, indi ...

of the National Association of Amateur Athletes of America. Like many of the GAA team, Mitchell remained in New York City rather than returning to Ireland at the end of the tour. Irish Whales John Flanagan Martin Sheridan James Mitchel

Irish Whales John Flanagan Martin Sheridan James Mitchel

Mitchel represented

New York Athletic Club The New York Athletic Club is a private social club and athletic club in New York state. Founded in 1868, the club has approximately 8,600 members and two facilities: the City House, located at 180 Central Park South in Manhattan, and Traver ...

at the 1904 Olympics in St Louis, Missouri. In the 56 lb weight throw he won the bronze medal. In the hammer throw competition he finished fifth and in the discus throw event he finished sixth.

Spalding Athletic Library Spalding Athletic Library sold sports and exercise books through American Sports Publishing Company from 1892 to 1941. Both companies were owned and founded by Spalding. Books cover over 30 different sports and exercises, and over 20 different o ...

issued several "how to" books, one being "How to become a weight thrower" by Olympian James Mitchel.Library of Congress

Retrieved Dec 16, 2020

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, James 1864 births 1921 deaths American male hammer throwers Athletes (track and field) at the 1904 Summer Olympics Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in track and field American people of Irish descent Irish male hammer throwers Male weight throwers Medalists at the 1904 Summer Olympics Olympic weight throwers Olympic tug of war competitors of the United States Tug of war competitors at the 1904 Summer Olympics