Eddie Eagan facts for kids

Eddie Eagan c. 1920
Quick facts for kids Personal information
Born	April 26, 1897 Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Died	14 June 1967(1967-06-14) (aged 70) New York City, U.S.
Alma mater	Yale University, Harvard University, University of Oxford
Height	5 ft 10 in
Sport
Sport	Boxing, bobsleigh
Club	Yale Bulldogs, New Haven
Medal record Representing the  United States Boxing Summer Olympics Gold 1920 Antwerp Light-heavyweight Bobsleigh Winter Olympics Gold 1932 Lake Placid Four-man

Edward Patrick Francis Eagan (April 26, 1897 – June 14, 1967) was an American boxer and bobsledder who is notable as being the only person to win a gold medal at both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games in different disciplines. Eagan won his summer gold in boxing and his winter gold in four-man bobsled. Finally, Eagan is one of the few athletes who have competed in both the Summer and Winter Olympic games.

Olympics

Eagan in London in 1923

Eagan was born into a modest family in Denver, Colorado. In 1920, he competed as a boxer at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, and won the gold medal in the light-heavyweight division. Eagan's other boxing awards include the 1919 AAU title and a British amateur title. He also competed at the 1924 Summer Olympics, but failed to medal, having lost in the first round to Arthur Clifton (see Boxing at the 1924 Summer Olympics - Men's heavyweight).

Winter Olympics

Eagan returned to the Olympics eight years later, this time as a member of the bobsleigh crew of Billy Fiske, who steered to victory at the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. Eagan became the first of five Olympians to medal in both Winter and Summer Games, followed by Jacob Tullin Thams (Norway), Christa Luding-Rothenburger (East Germany), Clara Hughes (Canada), and Lauryn Williams (United States). Eagan is one of two competitors to win gold in both Olympic seasons (the other being Gillis Grafström whose only summer gold was in figure skating).

Personal life

The grave of Eddie Eagan in Greenwood Union Cemetery, Rye, New York

Eagan graduated Yale in 1921, then studied law at Harvard University and later at the University of Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oxford in 1928. In 1932, he was admitted to the U.S. Bar.

During World War II, he fought with U.S. Army on many fronts, reaching the rank of Colonel and earning numerous decorations.

Eddie Eagan set a world record for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe by scheduled airlines on December 13th, 1948. He traveled 20,559 miles stopping at 18 different stations and beat the previous record by 20 hours and 15 minutes.

Eddie Eagan was a guest on the television show "I've Got A Secret" as one of five former Olympic champions which aired October 13, 1954.

He died at age 70 in New York City and was interred at Greenwood Union Cemetery.

See also

In Spanish: Eddie Eagan para niños