Ignatius Gronkowski

{{short description|American cyclist}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}}

{{Infobox cyclist

| name =

| image =

| caption = Ignatius (Iggy) Gronkowski. 1924 Olympic cycling team at Paris.

| fullname =

| nickname = Iggy

| birth_date = {{birth date|1897|3|28}}

| birth_place = Buffalo, New York, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|1981|9|22|1897|3|28}}

| death_place = Buffalo, New York, U.S.

| height =

| weight =

| currentteam =

| discipline =

| role =

| ridertype =

| amateuryears1 =

| amateurteam1 =

| proyears1 =

| proteam1 =

| majorwins =

}}

Ignatius J. Gronkowski{{cite news |last1=Alexander |first1=Alfred |title=Gronkowski is Reminiscing of Many Grueling Cycle Races Here and Abroad |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/dziennik-dla-wszystkich-gronkowski-is-re/132656967/ |access-date=30 September 2023 |work=Dziennik Dla Wszystkich |date=8 June 1955 |pages=11}} (March 28, 1897 – September 22, 1981){{cite news |title=Obituary for Ignatius Gronkowski |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news-obituary-for-ignatius-g/132656578/ |access-date=30 September 2023 |work=The Buffalo News |date=25 September 1981 |pages=10}} was an American professional cyclist. He held five world records for the 1/2-, 3/4-, 1.5-, and 2-mile distances.Archacki, Henry. [http://digital.lib.buffalo.edu/items/show/4070 "Cyclists course."] Archacki Cartoon Collection, 1931. University of Buffalo Libraries. Retrieved July 21, 2015.

Gronkowski was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. He attended school at St. Stanislaus.{{cite news |title=Fellow-Workers Present $582.70 to Iggy Gronkowski at Bond Plant |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-times-fellow-workers-present/132657849/ |access-date=30 September 2023 |work=The Buffalo Times |date=15 June 1924 |pages=83}}

He represented the United States at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris.[https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/gr/ignatius-gronkowski-1.html "Ignatius Gronkowski.'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106073401/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/gr/ignatius-gronkowski-1.html |date=November 6, 2012 }} www.sports-reference.com. Retrieved January 2, 2015. Gronkowski was reluctant to travel to Paris and leave his wife and baby with the little money that he had saved. However, that June, his coworkers at the American Radiator Company plant presented him with $582.70 ({{Inflation|US|582.70|1924|fmt=eq|r=2}}), enabling him to make the trip. The American team performed worse than expected at the Olympics at least in part because they had to use French bicycles to which they were not accustomed.

Gronkowski did not participate in the 1928 Summer Olympics because there was no qualifying event held in the United States.

After his racing career ended, he promoted the sport while working as a taxi driver.

His great-grandsons include National Football League players Rob, Dan, Chris and Glenn Gronkowski.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/14580 |title=Ignatius Gronkowski |work=Olympedia |access-date=October 11, 2021}}