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'''George Cornelius "Con" O'Kelly''' (29 October 1886 – 3 November 1947) was an [[Ireland|Irish]] [[Amateur wrestling|sport wrestler]] who competed for [[Great Britain]] in the [[1908 Summer Olympics]].
'''George Cornelius "Con" O'Kelly''' (29 October 1886 – 3 November 1947) was an [[Ireland|Irish]] born [[Amateur wrestling|sport wrestler]] who competed for [[Great Britain]] in the [[1908 Summer Olympics]], where he won a gold medal.


==Career==
In 1908 he won the gold medal in the freestyle heavyweight class.
O'Kelly was born in [[County Cork]], [[Ireland]], on 29 October 1886.<ref>{{cite web|title=Con O'Kelly, Sr.|url=http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ok/con-okelly-sr-1.html|publisher=Sports-Reference|accessdate=4 July 2012}}</ref> After he left school, he moved to [[Hull]] in [[England]] and lodged with Mr and Mrs Larvin in their home at 9 Blanket Row. On 18 September 1902, he joined the [[Kingston upon Hull City Police]] and was seconded to the local fire brigade.<ref name=citycopper>{{cite news|title=City copper who grappled his way to Olympic gold|url=http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/City-copper-grappled-way-Olympic-gold/story-15222958-detail/story.html|accessdate=4 July 2012|newspaper=this is Hull and East Riding|date=14 February 2012}}</ref>

He was introduced to wrestling by his colleagues and entered a variety of local competitions. He volunteered to fight the Northern Counties champion, whom he promptly defeated in around three minutes. He was entered by his local wrestling club into the British Amateur Wrestling Heavyweight Championship, which he won.<ref name=citycopper/>

He was to compete at the [[1908 Summer Olympics]] in London, but in March of that year a wall collapsed on him while he was fighting a fire at a [[sawmill]]. He recovered from damage to his back and shoulder in time for the Games where he defeated [[Lee Talbott]], [[Harry Foskett]] and [[Edward Barrett (Irish sportsman)|Edward Barrett]] in order to reach the Olympic final where he beat [[Jacob Gunderson]] for the gold medal.<ref name=citycopper/> He was presented with his medal by [[Queen Alexandra]], who also gave him with a green oak leaf badge.<ref name=citycopper/>

A crowd of over 12,000 greeted him on his return to Hull. He was carried to a decorated horse drawn fire engine, which paraded the medallist around the city.<ref name=citycopper/> He continued to wrestle after his Olympic victory, and even fought in [[New York City]]. However it was reported in ''[[The New York Times]]'' that his fight against Pat Connolly on 22 November 1909 turned into a fist fight after Connolly gouged O'Kelly's eyes and the two started trading blows, resulting in a double disqualification after 29 minutes of the bout.<ref name=dq>{{cite news|title=Irish Wrestlers Both Disqualified|url=http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F20816F83D5412738DDDAA0A94D9415B898CF1D3|accessdate=4 July 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=23 November 1909}}</ref> The ''New York Times'' referred to it as "the worst wrestling bout that has ever been held in this city".<ref name=dq/>

==Personal life==
He married the daughter of his landlord in Hull, Mary Cecilia Larvin.<ref name=citycopper/> His son, George Cornelius "Con" O'Kelly Jr., also went on to represent Great Britain at the Olympics. He appeared for the British team as a boxer in the heavyweight category at the [[1924 Summer Olympics]] in Paris, France.<ref name=junior>{{cite web|title=Con O'Kelly, Jr.|url=http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ok/con-okelly-jr-1.html|publisher=Sports-Reference|accessdate=4 July 2012}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}


==External links==
==External links==
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{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Okelly, Con
| NAME = O'Kelly, Con
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = O'Kelly, George Cornelius
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =Olympic wrestler
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Olympic wrestler
| DATE OF BIRTH = October 29, 1886
| DATE OF BIRTH = October 29, 1886
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| PLACE OF BIRTH =

Revision as of 22:25, 4 July 2012

Con O'Kelly
Born
George Cornelius O'Kelly

29 October 1886
Dunmanway, County Cork
Died3 November 1947
Kingston upon Hull, East Yorkshire
Nationality United Kingdom
Other namesCon
Statistics
Weight(s)220 lb (100 kg)
Height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Medal record
Men's freestyle wrestling
Gold medal – first place 1908 London heavyweight

George Cornelius "Con" O'Kelly (29 October 1886 – 3 November 1947) was an Irish born sport wrestler who competed for Great Britain in the 1908 Summer Olympics, where he won a gold medal.

Career

O'Kelly was born in County Cork, Ireland, on 29 October 1886.[1] After he left school, he moved to Hull in England and lodged with Mr and Mrs Larvin in their home at 9 Blanket Row. On 18 September 1902, he joined the Kingston upon Hull City Police and was seconded to the local fire brigade.[2]

He was introduced to wrestling by his colleagues and entered a variety of local competitions. He volunteered to fight the Northern Counties champion, whom he promptly defeated in around three minutes. He was entered by his local wrestling club into the British Amateur Wrestling Heavyweight Championship, which he won.[2]

He was to compete at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, but in March of that year a wall collapsed on him while he was fighting a fire at a sawmill. He recovered from damage to his back and shoulder in time for the Games where he defeated Lee Talbott, Harry Foskett and Edward Barrett in order to reach the Olympic final where he beat Jacob Gunderson for the gold medal.[2] He was presented with his medal by Queen Alexandra, who also gave him with a green oak leaf badge.[2]

A crowd of over 12,000 greeted him on his return to Hull. He was carried to a decorated horse drawn fire engine, which paraded the medallist around the city.[2] He continued to wrestle after his Olympic victory, and even fought in New York City. However it was reported in The New York Times that his fight against Pat Connolly on 22 November 1909 turned into a fist fight after Connolly gouged O'Kelly's eyes and the two started trading blows, resulting in a double disqualification after 29 minutes of the bout.[3] The New York Times referred to it as "the worst wrestling bout that has ever been held in this city".[3]

Personal life

He married the daughter of his landlord in Hull, Mary Cecilia Larvin.[2] His son, George Cornelius "Con" O'Kelly Jr., also went on to represent Great Britain at the Olympics. He appeared for the British team as a boxer in the heavyweight category at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Con O'Kelly, Sr". Sports-Reference. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "City copper who grappled his way to Olympic gold". this is Hull and East Riding. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  3. ^ a b "Irish Wrestlers Both Disqualified". The New York Times. 23 November 1909. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  4. ^ "Con O'Kelly, Jr". Sports-Reference. Retrieved 4 July 2012.

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