 Bonhag winning the 1500 m walk at the 1906 Intercalated Games | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | George Valentine Bonhag |
| Born | January 31, 1882 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | October 30, 1960 (aged 78) Bronx, New York City, U.S. |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Weight | 132 lb (60 kg) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Athletics |
Event | 1-6 miles |
| Club | Irish-American Athletic Club |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personalbest(s) | Mile – 4:22.4i (1910) 2 miles – 9:20.8i (1911) 5000 m – 15:05.8i (1912) 6 miles – 30:42.0i (1909)[1][2] |
George Valentine Bonhag (January 31, 1882 – October 30, 1960) was an Americanathlete and a member of theIrish American Athletic Club and theNew York City Police Department. He competed in distance events, both racewalking and running, at the 1904, 1908 and 1912 Olympics and at the1906 Intercalated Games.[3]
An announcement in the August 6, 1904, issue ofThe New York Times indicated that the Metropolitan Association of theAmateur Athletic Union would hold a "special five-mile race" at Celtic Park on August 13, 1904, with the eight top finishers receiving a paid trip to compete in themarathon at the Olympic Games in St. Louis on August 30, 1904.[4] Bonhag, listed as representing the Greater New York Irish Athletic Association, was named as one of 19 "probable competitors" in the event.[4]
At the1904 Summer Olympics he competed in800 m running but his result is unknown. At the1906 Intercalated Games he placed fourth over 5 miles and sixth over 1500 m. Disappointed and highly motivated to make up for his loss, he entered the 1500 m walk and won the gold medal. This was the only time he competed in this event, and the first walking race at Olympics. The rules were not clearly set, and many of the nine competitors, including Bonhag, were "skipping" (i.e. changing to half-running). The first two finishers,Robert Wilkinson andEugen Spiegler were disqualified for skipping. Two of four judges voted to disqualify Bonhag too, but he was defended by James Sullivan, chief judge of the event, andPrince George, who was president of the jury. A re-walk was set up between Bonhag andDon Linden, who finished fourth. Bonhag did not show up at the re-walk, and for uncertain reasons the jury did not change the race results and gave the gold medal to Bonhag and silver to Linden.[5]
Two years later Bonhag was part of the American 3 mile team that won the silver medal. Bonhag also participated in the3200 m steeplechase event, but was eliminated in the first round. In his fourth Olympics in1912 he won a team gold medal in the 3000 m race and placed fourth over5000 m. He also participated in theindividual cross country contest. As he was one of three Americans who did not finish the race, his team wasunplaced.[1]
Bonhag also competed in the exhibitionbaseball tournament at the 1912 Olympics.[1]
| Olympic Games | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Flagbearer for United StatesStockholm 1912 | Succeeded by |
