On the 5 August 1901, the Irish track and field athlete Peter O’Connor (1872-1957) set the long-standing world record for the long jump in Dublin  at 24 feet 11 3/4 inches [7.61 metres].

This was the first IAAF recognised long jump world record. It caused a sensation at the time, being only a fraction short of the 25 feet barrier, and remained unbeaten for 20 years, a longevity surpassed only by Jesse Owens’ 25-year record and Bob Beamon’s 23-year record, and the current record of Mike Powell. It remained an Irish record for a remarkable 89 years.

Born in Millom, Cumberland, England in 1872, O’Connor grew up in County Wicklow, Ireland, where he joined the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) in 1896.

In 1899 he won All-Ireland medals in long jump, high jump and hop, step and jump (triple jump). The British Amateur Athletic Association invited him to represent Britain in the Olympic Games in 1900, but he refused as he only wished to represent Ireland.

O’Connor set several unofficial world records in the long jump, and won two Olympic medals in the 1906 Intercalated Games.

The Intercalated Olympic Games were initially designed to become a series of International Olympic Games, halfway between what is now known as the Games of the Olympiad. This proposed series of games, intercalated in the Olympic Games cycle, was scheduled to always be held in Athens, and were to have equal status with the international games. However, the only such games were held in 1906.

At the flag-raising ceremony, in protest at the flying of the Union Flag for his second place, O’Connor scaled a flagpole in the middle of the field and waved the Irish flag. In the hop, step and jump competition two days later, O’Connor beat his fellow-countryman, Con Leahy, to win the gold medal. At 34 he was the oldest ever gold medal winner.

O’Connor remained involved in athletics all his life. He was a founder member and first Vice-President of Waterford Athletic Club, and attended later Olympics both as judge and spectator. He practiced as a solicitor in Waterford, where he died in 1957.

5 August, 2019