Michael Collins (athlete)
{{short description|Irish discus thrower}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Michael Collins
| image =
| caption =
| nationality = Irish
| sport = Athletics
| event = Discus throw/shot put
| club = Gaelic Athletic Association
Polytechnic Harriers
| birth_date = {{birth date|1879|9|15|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Currans, County Kerry, Ireland
| death_date = {{death date and age|1959|2|23|1879|9|15|df=yes}}
| death_place = Currans, County Kerry, Ireland
| height =
| weight =
}}
Michael Collins (15 September 1879 – 23 February 1959) was an Irish athlete. He competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics.{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/co/michael-collins-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418042302/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/co/michael-collins-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2020 |title=Michael Collins Olympic Results |access-date=10 January 2018}}
Biography
Collins was born in Currans, County Kerry, Ireland but moved to London to work for Pearl Life Assurance.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/68973 |title=Michael Collins |work=Olympedia |access-date=16 April 2025}} He joined the Polytechnic Harriers.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004056/19080703/078/0004 |title=Foots Cray Cricket Club |work=Eltham & District Times |date=3 July 1908 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=16 April 2025}}
He finished third behind fellow Irishman Denis Horgan in the shot put event at the 1905 AAA Championships{{cite web|url=https://www.nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm |title=AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists |website=National Union of Track Statisticians |access-date=16 April 2025}}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000893/19050703/021/0002 |title=The Amateur Championships |work=Sporting Life |date=3 July 1905 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=16 April 2025}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/aaa.htm |title=AAA Championships (men) |website=GBR Athletics |access-date=16 April 2025}} and the following year finished fourth at the 1906 AAA Championships.
Collins represented the Great Britain team at the 1908 Olympic Games in London,{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001055/19080612/073/0003 |title=The Olympic Games, British Representatives |work=The Sportsman |date=12 June 1908 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=16 April 2025}}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000648/19080612/187/0008 |title=Olympic Games, Britain's team of athletes |work=Liverpool Daily Post |date=12 June 1908 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=16 April 2025}} where he participated in the men's discus throw competition. His mark in the event is unknown and he failed to progress and he did not start in the Greek discus throw competition.
Collins returned to Ireland, taking charge of the family farm at Ballindroichead, Currans, where he lived until his death on 3 February 1959.
References
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Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1908 Summer Olympics