John ‘J.J.’ ‘Jack’ Ryan holds the distinction of being the first athlete to represent Ireland in an Olympic final, competing in the men’s 10,000 metres at the 1924 Paris Olympic Games in an event that was run without heats – meaning every competitor went straight to the final.

The Tipperary champion was among the leading athletes at the national level and was considered Ireland’s foremost hope on the track, completing much of the early stages of the race in third place in a field estimated at thirty-three athletes before an accidental trip late in the race ended his challenge.

The spike injury sustained in that fall also prevented him from competing in the 3000m steeplechase. He additionally competed in the 10,700m cross country event in extreme heat, in conditions that were so severe that many runners required medical attention and Olympic and Red Cross officials spent hours searching for missing athletes on the course.