Name Tony Byrne Role Boxer | Martial art Boxing Division Lightweight | |
Born 6 July 1930 ( 1930-07-06 ) Drogheda, Ireland Died April 27, 2013, Edmonton, Canada Olympic medals Boxing at the 1956 Summer Olympics - Lightweight People also search for Anatoly Lagetko, Dick McTaggart, Harry Kurschat | ||
Tony byrne irish olympic boxing legend sings it s a wonderful world
Anthony Byrne, more commonly common known as Tony Byrne or Socks Byrne (6 July 1930 – 27 April 2013) was an amateur boxer. Byrne won a bronze medal for Ireland at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, in the lightweight division.
Contents
- Tony byrne irish olympic boxing legend sings it s a wonderful world
- Early life and career
- Melbourne Olympics
- Olympic results
- Life After Boxing
- References
Early life and career
Byrne was born in Drogheda, Ireland. Doubt had been cast over whether Byrne would have the funds to travel to Melbourne to participate in the 1956 Olympics. However, a fundraising campaign under the banner of "Send Byrne to Melbourne" was created, and it raised £653 from local businesses in Drogheda to send him on his quest for glory down under.
Melbourne Olympics
Byrne carried the flag for Ireland at the opening ceremony and was the captain of the Irish boxing team. He beat opponents from Czechoslovakia and United States before losing in the semifinal on a split decision to Harry Kurschat of Germany. A few months later, he showed what might have been when he beat the eventual Gold Medallist, Dick McTaggart, in an Ireland-England International at the Royal Albert Hall.
Olympic results
Life After Boxing
In 1962, Byrne, and his wife Honor, emigrated to Canada. The Byrne's settled in Canada and have a family of two girls and a set of twin boys. In 2006 a statue of Byrne was unveiled in his hometown.