Jim Hogan (athlete) explained

James Joseph Hogan (né Cregan; 28 May 1933 – 10 January 2015) was an Irish distance runner who competed for both Ireland and Great Britain.[1] He was born in Croom, County Limerick, Ireland.[2] Hogan's athletic career saw him compete for Ireland at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and for Great Britain at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.[3] He was also the only Irish athlete to win the European marathon title.[4]

Biography

Hogan was born as Jim Cregan in [Athlacca, County Limerick], Ireland in May 1933.[5] In his youth, he had some success in cross-country running in Ireland.[1] However, he initially retired from the sport at the age of 26, and moved to England in 1960.[1] Once in England, he took up running again, and changed his surname by deed poll from Cregan to Hogan, with the goal of competing in running events in England.[1] While running in England, his performances were noticed by selectors for the Irish Olympic team, who picked him to compete at the 1964 Summer Olympics.[1]

Hogan competed at two Olympic Games.[4] At the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Hogan represented Ireland in the men's 10,000 metres and the men's marathon,[6] but did not finish either race.[7] [8] Despite not finishing in the marathon, Hogan kept pace with the eventual winner, Abebe Bikila, until he was forced to withdraw from the race due to dehydration.[9]

Hogan felt both disillusioned and discriminated against for being an Irish athlete living in England, so he switched to compete for Great Britain.[1] He won the marathon title at the 1966 European Championships.[2] Two years later, at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Hogan represented Great Britain in the men's 10,000 metres, where he finished in 26th place.[10]

After setting multiple World and European distance records in athletics,[1] [11] he returned to live in County Limerick to train horses.[12] He died there in January 2015, at the age of 81.[13] A biography of his life, titled "The Irishman who ran for England" was published before he died.[14]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jim Hogan . Olympedia . 24 May 2022.
  2. News: Former Olympian Jim Hogan passes away . . Ian . O'Riordan . 11 January 2015.
  3. Jim Hogan . https://web.archive.org/web/20110627153508/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ho/jim-hogan-1.html . 27 June 2011 . dead.
  4. Web site: Limerick athlete who struck gold as a marathon runner . The Irish Times . 24 May 2022.
  5. Web site: Limerick's Jim Hogan, a man who fulfilled his potential wearing a Great Britain singlet . Limerick Post . 24 May 2022.
  6. Web site: A Fallible and Dedicated Running Life Remembered . Runner's World . 24 May 2022.
  7. Web site: 10,000 metres, Men (1964) . Olympedia . 24 May 2022.
  8. Web site: Marathon, Men (1964) . Olympedia . 24 May 2022.
  9. Web site: Jim Hogan — how a barefoot runner from Limerick ended up winning gold for Britain . Medium.com . 24 May 2022.
  10. Web site: 10,000 metres, Men (1968) . Olympedia . 24 May 2022.
  11. Web site: Encomium To A Legend: Jim Hogan - A Rare Breed . Lets Run . 24 May 2022.
  12. Web site: Former trainer Jim Hogan passes away, aged 81 . The Irish Field . 24 May 2022.
  13. Web site: Remembering Jim Hogan – the passing of a true running legend . Jumping the Gun . 24 May 2022.
  14. Web site: RIP Jim Hogan 1933-2015 . Olympic Federation of Ireland . 24 May 2022.