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Irish athletics are in mourning today following the sudden death of Olympian Pat Hooper, who passed away at the age of 68 after a suspected heart attack.
ooper was one of the most beloved figures in sport. He ran his personal best marathon record of 2:17:46 to win the national title in 1979, and the following year he competed in the Moscow Olympics, finishing 42nd in the marathon. In 1978 he represented Ireland in the marathon of the European Championship in Prague, finishing 27th.
After hanging up his racing shoes, his commitment to the sport endured and, if anything, grew stronger. Hooper played a huge role in the development of Raheny Shamrock AC into one of the strongest clubs in the country and was a longtime member of the Athletics Ireland competition committee.
He was a constant sight at events across the country, volunteering his time as an officer in everything from youth championships to masters championships, indoor to outdoor, cross country to road. He is the founder of the Raheny 5 mile road race, one of the most popular events on the racing calendar. In January he was re-elected as president of Leinster Athletics, while he was also the current president of the Dublin Athletic Board. His younger brother, Dick, was a three-time Dublin Marathon winner and a three-time Olympian. His son, Dave, is a well-known sportswriter.
Ciara Mageean summed up the thoughts of many in Irish athletics last night, writing on Twitter: “Thank you Pat for giving so much to our sport.”
Online editors
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