Patrick Joseph McDonald, Irish American track and field athlete, dies in New York City on May 16, 1954. He is a member of the Irish American Athletic Club and of the New York City Police Department, working as a traffic cop in Times Square for many years. He is also part of a group of Irish American athletes known as the “Irish Whales.”

McDonald was born Patrick Joseph McDonnell in Killard, County Clare, on July 29, 1878. When his sister lands at Ellis Island after her sea voyage from Ireland, immigration officials pin a name tag on her with her name spelled “McDonald.” Taking no chances of being deported, she and all the McDonnells who come after her, accept the name McDonald.

Inspired by the feats of his countrymen John Flanagan, Matt McGrath, and Martin Sheridan, McDonald initially has aspirations of becoming a hammer thrower but shows more aptitude as a shot putter. After placing second to Ralph Rose at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 1909 and 1910, he takes the title in Rose’s absence in 1911 and defeats Rose at the 1912 championships.

McDonald competes for the United States in the 1912 Summer Olympics held in Stockholm, Sweden, in the shot put where he once again defeats Rose and wins the gold medal. He also takes part in the shot put competition where the distance thrown with each hand is added together. This is the only time this event is held in the Olympic program, and he finishes second behind Rose.

McDonald returns eight years later, after World War I, to compete in the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium. Here he wins the gold medal in the 56-lb. weight throw in the second and final time this competition is held in the Olympic program.

McDonald continues to be a nationally competitive athlete well into his 50s. At the age of 54, he beats his old rival Matt McGrath to win the weight throw for distance at the 1933 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. It is his 26th senior national championship meet, and the Omaha World-Herald notes that he has gray hair at the time of his last victory.

McDonald dies in New York City at the age of 75 on May 16, 1954. He is interred at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York.

McDonald is inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2012.