George Bonhag
Encyclopedia
George Valentine Bonhag (January 31, 1882 – October 30, 1960) was an American
athlete and a member of the Irish American Athletic Club
and the New York City Police Department
.
He was born in Boston
and died in New York City
.
Bonhag competed in distance events, both racewalking and running, and was a member of the U.S. Olympic team in four Olympic Games
.
In the 1904 Summer Olympics
in St. Louis, Missouri
, he competed in the 800 metres race
but his exact result is unknown. In the 1906 Intercalated Games held in Athens
, Greece
he won the gold medal in the 1500 metre walk, the first time he ever competed in this event. In the 5 miles event he finished fourth and in the 1500 metre competition he finished sixth.
Two years later at the 1908 Summer Olympics
held in London
, Great Britain
he was part of the American 3 mile team where he won the silver medal with his team mates John Eisele
and Herbert Trube
. Bonhag also participated in the 3200 metre steeplechase event
but was eliminated in the first round.
In his fourth Olympics in 1912
held in Stockholm
, Sweden
he won his third Olympic medal and his second gold in the 3000 metre team with Norman Taber
and Tell Berna
. In the 5000 metres competition
he finished fourth. He also participated in the individual cross country contest
. As he was one of three Americans which did not finished the race the team of the United States was unplaced in the team cross country competition
.
Bonhag also competed in the exhibition baseball tournament
at the 1912 Olympics.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
athlete and a member of the Irish American Athletic Club
Irish American Athletic Club
The Irish American Athletic Club was an amateur athletic organization, based in Queens, New York at the beginning of the 20th Century.-Early years:...
and the New York City Police Department
New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
.
He was born in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
and died in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Bonhag competed in distance events, both racewalking and running, and was a member of the U.S. Olympic team in four Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
.
In the 1904 Summer Olympics
1904 Summer Olympics
The 1904 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the III Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States from 1 July 1904, to November 23, 1904, at what is now known as Francis Field on the campus of Washington University...
in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, he competed in the 800 metres race
Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics - Men's 800 metres
The men's 800 metres was a track and field athletics event held as part of the Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics programme. It was the third time the event was held. 13 runners from 3 nations participated...
but his exact result is unknown. In the 1906 Intercalated Games held in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
he won the gold medal in the 1500 metre walk, the first time he ever competed in this event. In the 5 miles event he finished fourth and in the 1500 metre competition he finished sixth.
Two years later at the 1908 Summer Olympics
1908 Summer Olympics
The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in 1908 in London, England, United Kingdom. These games were originally scheduled to be held in Rome. At the time they were the fifth modern Olympic games...
held in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Great Britain
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
he was part of the American 3 mile team where he won the silver medal with his team mates John Eisele
John Eisele
John Eisele was an American athlete. He won the silver medal in the 3 mile team race and bronze medal in the 3,200 metres steeplechase at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London....
and Herbert Trube
Herbert Trube
Herbert Trube was an American athlete who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics....
. Bonhag also participated in the 3200 metre steeplechase event
Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics - Men's 3200 metre steeplechase
The men's 3,200 metres steeplechase was held for the only time at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. The competition was held on July 17, 1908 and July 18, 1908. The races were held on a track of 536.45 metres= mile in circumference...
but was eliminated in the first round.
In his fourth Olympics in 1912
1912 Summer Olympics
The 1912 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, between 5 May and 27 July 1912. Twenty-eight nations and 2,407 competitors, including 48 women, competed in 102 events in 14 sports...
held in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
he won his third Olympic medal and his second gold in the 3000 metre team with Norman Taber
Norman Taber
Norman Stephen Taber was an American middle distance runner. He was the first amateur runner to surpass Walter George's professional record in the mile, set nearly 30 years previously...
and Tell Berna
Tell Berna
Tell Schirnding Berna was an American athlete who competed mainly in the 3000 metre team.His 1912 American record at two miles stood for twenty years...
. In the 5000 metres competition
Athletics at the 1912 Summer Olympics - Men's 5000 metres
The men's 5000 metres was a track and field athletics event held as part of the Athletics at the 1912 Summer Olympics programme. It was the debut of the event, which along with the 10000 metre event replaced the 5 mile race held at the 1908 Summer Olympics...
he finished fourth. He also participated in the individual cross country contest
Athletics at the 1912 Summer Olympics - Men's individual cross country
The men's individual cross country was a track and field athletics event held as part of the athletics at the 1912 Summer Olympics programme. It was the first appearance of the event...
. As he was one of three Americans which did not finished the race the team of the United States was unplaced in the team cross country competition
Athletics at the 1912 Summer Olympics - Men's team cross country
The men's team cross country was a track and field athletics event held as part of the Athletics at the 1912 Summer Olympics programme. It was the first appearance of the event...
.
Bonhag also competed in the exhibition baseball tournament
Baseball at the 1912 Summer Olympics
Baseball had its first appearance at the 1912 Summer Olympics as an exhibition sport. A game was played between the United States, the nation where the game was developed, and Sweden, the host nation. The game was held on Monday, 15 July 1912 and started at 10 a.m...
at the 1912 Olympics.