John Pius Boland, who was a native of Dublin, was the first and only Irish born Gold Medal winner when the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in Athens in 1896. The 1896 Olympic Games featured 280 participants from 13 nations, competing in 43 events. Prior to 1922 Irish born athletes competed for Great Britain and Ireland if they were living in Ireland. Others who had emigrated, competed for countries such as the USA, South Africa, Canada and Australia.

Competitions in the 1896 games were held in 9 sports: Athletics, Cycling (Road and Track), Fencing, Gymnastics, Shooting, Swimming, Tennis, Weightlifting and Wrestling. John Boland won two Gold Medals in the singles and doubles tennis. (Up until 1904 Olympic Champions were awarded a silver medal. The gold medal was first awarded at the Olympic Games in 1904 in St Louis in the United States)

John Mary Pius Boland was born at 135 Capel Street in Dublin. His father, who was a baker, died when John was aged seven and his mother died when he was aged twelve. Boland and his six siblings were placed under the guardianship of their uncle Nicholas Donnelly who was then the auxiliary Bishop of Dublin. John Boland was educated at Catholic University School in Dublin and the Edgbaston Oratory School in Birmingham, England. In 1892 he graduated from London University with a BA degree. He later studied at Christ Church Oxford from where he was awarded an MA in law in 1901.

During 1896 Boland spent a semester studying in Bonn, Germany. In March of that year, during the Easter holidays, he travelled to Athens to meet Thrasyvoulos Manos, a friend from Oxford. Manos was a member of the Olympic organising committee. He persuaded Boland to enter the tennis competition.

Boland had played tennis both at school and university. He bought tennis clothing and a racquet in Athens. He was unable to find suitable shoes and was forced to play in his own leather shoes. Despite this he won gold and became an Olympic champion in both the double and singles tournament.

When the medals were being presented Boland pointed out that he was Irish and requested that the Irish flag be used during the presentation of the medals. However there was no official Irish flag available. As a result the Union Jack was used even though Boland was not a member of the British team.

John Boland joined the Irish Parliamentary Party and served as MP for South Kerry in the British House of Commons from 1900 to 1918. He spoke Irish, had a keen interest in the language and sometimes addressed the House of Commons in Irish. Boland served as a member of the commission which established the National University of Ireland. In 1909 he led the campaign for the adoption of the Irish Trademark (a circle with Celtic interlace work and the words ‘Déanta in Éireann’). He was General Secretary of the Catholic Truth Society for 21 years from 1926 to 1947. He died at the age of 87 in London on St Patrick’s Day in 1958

John Pius Boland, who became the Olympic tennis champion at the first modern Olympics in 1896 was born in Dublin in the year 1870 On This Day.

Photo by Tristan Honscheid

Athens Old Olympic Stadium by Tristan Honscheid on 2012-03-22 09:08:39