Finally, the Olympics! As if four years between Olympic competition isn’t long enough to wait, there was an extra year delay due to Covid Pandemic. From July 23 – August 8, the 2020 Olympics are underway in Tokyo, Japan. From August 25 to September 6 the Paraolympics are also in Tokyo.
For my family and much of the world this is a time when we are focused on watching the best athletes competing at the Olympics. As I watched, it got me thinking about athletes participating and the ways their history is being preserved.
I was pleasantly surprised that there are many books and plenty of online Olympic history resources. In 2021, it seems each athlete has their own web page, the hosting country may have a page and the entire 2020 Tokyo Olympics has its own medal results page. Beyond that there are event specific and official and unofficial result pages. The media has done a great job of presenting a variety of human interest stories that includes family connections.
Here is a web site that lists everyone who has ever received a medal:
https://olympics.com/en/athletes/
These records go back to the “modern” Olympics starting in 1896. It was eye opening to think back that when the Olympics first opened in the Greek capital, there were only men competing from a few countries and now they boast more than 11,200 competitors representing 207 nations.
Were you lucky enough to have a member of your family in the Olympics? Medal winners?
https://www.olympicgameswinners.com/
I’ve discovered a little Olympic story to inspire you.
Little Johnny Hayes winner of the 1908 London Olympics Great Marathon race! [The Buffalo Sunday Morning News (Buffalo, NY) 30 Aug 1908 p1]
John J. Hayes made world history with his completion of the 26 miles and 385 yard run. A featured profile on the Running Past web page included a photo a short movie clip of the crowd watching the run!
http://www.runningpast.com/johnny_hayes.htm
The race was 2 hours, 55 minutes, 18.4 seconds and of course there was a little back story to this big win as Johnny was not favored to win. On a hot, muggy day, South African Charles Heffernan and Italian Dorando Pietri were battling for the marathon lead when, about two miles from the finish, Heffernan reportedly accepted champagne from a fan, got dizzy and faded. That left only American John Hayes to chase Pietri. Pietri entered Shepherd’s Bush Stadium first but then the heat got to him. He began staggering the wrong way, was redirected by officials, then fell. Officials helped him up but he collapsed several more times before struggling across the finish line first, in the arms of an official.
The Italian flag was raised just as Hayes entered the stadium and finished. American officials promptly protested that Pietri had received illegal help. The protest was upheld and Hayes was awarded the gold medal.
I learned from his 1919 Passport Application that his family was from Nenagh, Ireland and had arrived about 1886. His father Michael F. Hayes was deceased in 1905.
As any good genealogist I wanted to see Johnny and his family in the US Census.
1900 US Census NY, NY, Bronx, District 0981 – 562 139th Street, Bronx, NY
Hayes, Michael L. 40 Ire (Ire/Ire) 1880 immigration Baker
Nellie 38 NY (Ire/Ire)
John 14 NY (NY/NY) at school
William 13 NY (NY/NY) at school
Harriette 10 NY (NY/NY) at school
Daniel 5 NY (NY/NY)
Phillip 3 NY (NY/NY)
Alice 8 NY (NY/NY at school
22 Aug 1906 John Hayes married Annie Mauler
1910 US Census –New York, New York, Manhattan, Ward 6
Hayes, John 28 New York (Ire/Ire) Janitor Office Building
Anna A. 26 New York (Ire/NJ) Packer Drugs04 Nov 1914 John
1915 State of New Jersey, Hudson, Union, First Ward, Sheet 17
Hayes, John Apr 1886 29 NY (NY/NY) sic Director
Anna Jul 1884 30 NJ (NJ/NJ) sic Housewife
1920 US Census – NJ, Hudson, North Bergen
Hayes, John J. 33 NY (FreeStateIrish/NY) Broker Inspector Ship
Anna E 31 NJ (NJ/NJ)
Doris E 4 NJ (NY/NJ)
1930 US Census – NJ, Hudson, North Bergen, 100 33rd St
John J. Hayes 43 NY (Free State Irish/NY) Broker Food
Anna E 43 NJ (NJ/NY) Proprietor Dress Shop
Doris E 15 NJ (NY/NJ)
1940 US Census – NJ, Hudson, North Bergen
Hayes, John J. 52 NY City , NY Salesman Broker Canned foods
Anna E. 52 Jersey City, NJ Housewife
Doris A. 22 Union City, NJ College 3rd year Teacher Public School
It seems Johnnie lived a happy life. His daughter later would describe her life included attending sporting events with her father. He died in 1965.
[The Record (Hakensack, NJ) 25 Aug 1954, Wed p 58]
An obituary was posted in newspapers all over the US and beyond. His Olympic success was not forgotten. And his daughter, Doris, carried his gold medal in her purse! He was buried at the Holy Name Cemetery in Jersey City, NJ.
Wikipedia summarized Johnny’s bio born 10 April 1886 and died 25 Aug 1965. He was a trainer for the 1912 Olympics. He later taught physical education and was a food broker. He had a guest appearance on the tv show “I’ve got a Secret.” He died in Englewood, NJ.
It warmed my heart to see this newspaper story about Johnnie’s daughter Doris Hayes Hale.
I get a sense she was very, very proud of her father’s accomplishment. With no children of her own I wonder “where is that medal now?” Doris died in 2001.
answer: https://www.shoreac.org/johnny-hayes.html#/
Now back to humming the Olympic Theme Song when I accomplish simple tasks at home.
Geneographer 
Aww, Doris Hayes was my Kindergarten teacher, in Englewood, New Jersey, 1960.
She talked about her father a lot, showed us memorabilia, including, once, his Olympic medal.
Johnny died 5 years later, and I’m guessing Doris never married until afterwards, as she was Miss Hayes when my teacher.
Yes, she had us run races, and I always won! In fact, a few years later a family friend wanted to train me to be an Olympic runner.
I wasn’t interested in that, but running remained important to me, and I never forgot those early tales about Johnny Hayes from his daughter who loved him so much.
LikeLike
I appreciate your comment! This story really intrigues me. Thanks for making this connection, let’s keep his story alive!
LikeLike