Ron Delany facts for kids
Delany in 1957
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nickname(s) | Ronnie | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Irish | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 6 March 1935 Arklow, County Wicklow, Ireland |
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| Died | 11 March 2026 (aged 91) Dublin, Ireland |
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| Height | 184 cm | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 75 kg | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Ireland | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 800 m, 1500 m | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Crusaders Athletic Club, Dublin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Jumbo Elliott | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Retired | 1962 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Regional finals | 1954 European Athletics Championships, 1958 European Athletics Championships |
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| Olympic finals | 1956 Summer Olympics, 1960 Summer Olympics |
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| Personal best(s) | 800 m – 1:47.1 (1961) 1500 m – 3:41.49 (1956) |
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Medal record
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| Updated on 29 July 2012. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ronald Michael Delany (born 6 March 1935, died 11 March 2026) was a famous Irish athlete. He was known for his incredible speed in middle-distance running races. Ron Delany achieved a huge victory by winning a gold medal in the 1500 metres race at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne.
He also won a bronze medal in the 1500 metres at the 1958 European Athletics Championships. Ron Delany competed in other big events, like the 1954 European Athletics Championships and the 1960 Summer Olympics. He stopped competing in 1962. Ron Delany was a well-known Irish Olympian and a great representative for his country.
Contents
Ron's Early Life and Education
Ron Delany was born in Arklow, County Wicklow, Ireland. When he was six years old, his family moved to Sandymount, Dublin. He went to school at O'Connell School, where sports facilities are now named after him. Later, he attended Catholic University School (CUS).
At CUS, Ron's first coach was Jack Sweeney. After winning his Olympic gold medal in 1956, Ron sent a telegram to Jack saying, "We did it Jack." Ron later shared that Jack Sweeney helped him achieve his full potential. Ron then went to Villanova University in the United States. There, he studied business and was coached by the famous American track coach, Jumbo Elliott.
Ron Delany's Amazing Running Career
Ron Delany first showed his talent at the 1954 European Athletics Championships in Bern. He reached the final of the 800 metres race, which was a great start to his career. In 1956, he achieved a big milestone by running a mile in under four minutes. This was a very impressive feat for runners at that time.
Becoming an Olympic Champion
Even with his talent, Ron found it hard to join the Irish team for the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne. But he made it and qualified for the 1500 metres final. In that race, John Landy, a runner from Australia, was expected to win. Ron stayed close to Landy throughout the race.
Then, on the very last lap, Ron Delany started an incredible sprint. He surged ahead and won the race, setting a new Olympic record! This made him the first Irish person to win an Olympic gold medal in athletics since 1932. It was a huge moment for Ireland. Ron remained Ireland's last Olympic champion for 36 years.
More Victories and Records
After his Olympic win, Ron Delany continued to achieve success. He won the British AAA Championships title in the 880 yards race in 1957. He also earned a bronze medal in the 1500 metres at the 1958 European Athletics Championships. Ron represented Ireland again at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, competing in the 800 metres.
Ron Delany also had a fantastic running career in North America. He won four straight titles in the mile race from the AAU. He also claimed four Irish national titles and three NCAA titles. He was almost unbeatable on indoor tracks, with an amazing 40-race winning streak. He even broke the World Indoor Mile Record three times! In 1961, Ron won another gold medal at the World University Games in Sofia, Bulgaria. He stopped competitive running in 1962.
Life After Running
After Ron Delany stopped competing, he started a new career. First, he worked for the Irish airline Aer Lingus in the United States. Then, for about 20 years, he worked for a shipping company called B&I Line, which later became Irish Ferries. He was in charge of marketing for them. In 1988, he started his own business. His company helped with marketing and gave advice on sports.
Awards and Recognitions
Ron Delany received many honors for his achievements. In 2006, he was given the Freedom of the City of Dublin, which is a special award. That same year, University College Dublin gave him an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree. This recognized his great contributions.
In 2019, a new housing area in his hometown of Arklow was named Delany Park to honor him. Ron Delany even attended the opening ceremony. In the 1950s, two streets in Strabane, Northern Ireland, were named Delaney Crescent and Olympic Drive after him. However, Ron didn't know about these streets until much later, and he found out his name was spelled incorrectly on them!
Ron Delany's Family Life
On the day he retired from running, Ron Delany shared happy news: he was engaged to Joan Riordan. They got married in August 1962 in Dundrum, Dublin. Ron and Joan had four children together. Ron Delany passed away on 11 March 2026, at the age of 91, after a short illness.
See also
In Spanish: Ron Delany para niños
