The Irish standard., 1910-07-02
COUNTY MAYO MAN
Is Considered by Competent Critics
the Greatest Athlete in the
World.
Is Holder of Six World Champion
ships and Withal Modest
Man.

The greatest all-around athlete
Martin Sheridan, was born in County
Mayo, Ireland, a country that has pro-
duced more famous athletes than any
other on the globe. He came to the
United States at an early age, and en-
tering upon his athletic career has
won all his victories under the ban
ner Of the Irish-A American Athletic
Club, which organization contains
more worlds champions than any 9th
er club in the world. BY competent
judges Sheridan is pronounced the
greatest all around athlete the world
has ever seen.
In what are known as field and track
sports, however, Sheridan strikes an
average above every other athlete OF
any nation. The "all around" cham
pionship means pre- eminence in ten
different classes of events, namely:
Running, in the form of 10O-yard
dash; weight throwing, in the form
of putting the shot; the high jump
half mile walk, hammer throwing
another form Of weight manipulation:
pole vaulting, running and jumping
over hurdles-a distance of 100 yards;
the running broad jump; hurting the
S. pound weight, and the mile run. In
these events, striking an average as
it were, Sheridan Is the superior in all
around efficiency of any other living
man who essays all ten Of these stand
ard athletic stunts.
Martin Sheridan's world champion
with the surprising total of 1885
points out Of a possible 10000. Just
how remarkable this is will be better
appreciated when it is explained that
no other athlete has ever been able
to get within sight of a total of 1000
points. Kiley of Ireland, the best all
around athlete in Europe. who really
has no serious rival on the other side,
has but $3.50 points to his credit, and
when Gill Of Toronto fllched the hon
ors from the foreign champion he did
1t by the narrow margin Of 80 points.
The six foot Irish American cham
pion-holder Of six world champion
ships-has been pronounced veri-
table reincarnation of one of the an
cient Greek athletes. Certainly he
presents, when throwing the discus,
a fascinating picture Of muscular
power and grace, combined with an
indefnable suggestion of confidence
and reserve power. The hint of her
culean propensities Is not entirely con-
cealed when one sees Sheridan in Or
binary attire and away from the at
en-, we'll groomed and clean cut in APP
pearance, he suggests both in manner
and dress the up to date man of the
best type, but to the initiated his
stride and the movements of his arms
call up visions of some Wanted stroke
oar or unvanquished football hero
Sheridan is singuarly modest and un-
assuming, with liberal supply of the
saving grace of Irish humor. I'm
lucky" is the nearest approach to an
egotistical expression that any one
has ever been able TO get out of this
soft spoken giant in response to the
most extravagant praise for his ex-
ploits.
That Sheridan has not yet reached
the zenith of his powers and is con-
stantly developing in various direc-
lions Is attested by the fact that only
a few months ago he invaded a new
athletic field and forthwith captured
the worlds record. The new accom-
plishment is in hurting the 42-pound
stone. Sheridan threw the weight 81
feet Y Inch, or fully inches farther
than attained in the previous world
record established some half dozen
years ago. Sheridan's newest record
of 142 feet 1917 inches for the discus
throw, whereby he broke his best
previous record by more than feet
was also made late in the autumn OF
1909.