John Menton competed in the men's discus throw at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
From Dublin and a member of Donore Harriers, Menton came to athletics through necessity rather than design: a neck injury sustained while playing rugby aged 14 at Terenure College ended his prospects in that sport, and he turned to throwing events instead. He joined Donore Harriers in 1987 and over the following decade became one of the most decorated throwers in Irish athletics history, winning 26 national senior titles across the discus and 56lb weight for distance events - as well as 16 Intervarsities titles in four different throwing events - while simultaneously pursuing a career in law.
He qualified for Sydney after a calculated campaign to reach the A standard of 63.50 metres, moving to New York to train intensively with Ukrainian-born coach Roman Feldman - who had worked with top Soviet throwers before emigrating - alongside hammer thrower Paddy McGrath.
On 5 July 2000 he achieved a personal best of 63.70 metres at Oakhurst, New Jersey - the second longest throw in Irish history. He is the Irish record holder in the 56lb weight for distance with a throw of 9.16 metres set at Santry in July 1998, and won silver at the World Masters Athletics Championships in 2007.
He was elected to the board of the Olympic Federation of Ireland in December 2024.
Athletics
