The Olympic Council of Ireland has learned with great sadness of the death of Jim Hogan.The Limerick born Olympic runner passed away at the age of 81 in a nursing home in Kilmallock.
Born in Croom in 1933, he changed his name from Cregan to Hogan after moving to England and ran for Ireland in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. There, he closely tracked eventual winner Abebe Bikila for more than 20 miles in the marathon before being forced to drop out in the closing stages due to severe dehydration.
In 1966, he went on to win a European Marathon title – this time wearing a British singlet. A few years ago a book was published on his life titled ‘The Irishman who ran for England’.
Earlier this summer, former world record holder Dave Bedford, a life-long friend of Jim’s, visited him at the Maria Goretti Nursing Home in Kilmallock where he spent his final days.
His funeral mass takes place at noon Monday January 12th, at St John The Baptist Church, Athlacca.
The OCI extends its sincere condolences to Jim Hogan’s family and to his many friends and colleagues.
