Joe Donoghue

Joseph F. Donoghue (February 11, 1871 – April 1, 1921[1]) was an American speed skater. He became the speed skating World Champion in 1891 and was a member of the Manhattan Athletic Club.[2]

Joe Donoghue
Personal information
Born(1871-02-11)February 11, 1871
Newburgh, New York, United States
DiedApril 1, 1921 (aged 50)
New York City, New York, United States
Sport
CountryUnited States
SportSpeed skating
Medal record
Men's speed skating
Representing the  United States
World Allround Championships
Gold medal – first place1891 AmsterdamAllround

Biography

Joe Donoghue skated on ice-skates with longer irons than did the other skaters in his time. This gave him an advantage because he did not need to swing with his arms.[3]

Joe Donoghue came from a family of skaters. His father Timothy Donoghue was an American champion in 1864 and a pioneer skate designer, and of his sons Timothy Jr, Joe and James competed as speed skaters. In 1889, at age 18, Joe Donoghue traveled to Russia where he raced against the Russian champion Alexander Panshin.[4]

Timothy Donoghue Sr on skating techniques in windy or windless conditions and the difference between Joe Donoghue's and Alexander Panshin's skating in the February 10, 1889 issue of the Pittsburg Dispatch (page 11):

"A good skater will always have the wind against him, for he goes faster than an ordinary breeze. Going before the wind a man can make 33 per cent better time than on a calm day. When the wind is against a man it is desirable to present as little surface to it as possible. For this reason I have taught the boys to skate with their arms folded behind them. With our long skate we make long strokes. Von Panschin, in spite of his size, makes 30 strokes to Joe's 20 while they are skating."

World records
DistanceDistanceDateLocation
Hour record26292mJanuary 26, 1893United Kingdom
Stamford

Source: SpeedSkatingStats.com[5]

References
  1. Paul J.de Loca, Encyclopedia of ethnicity and sports in the United States, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2000
  2. "Three great American skaters". Retrieved October 27, 2011.
  3. "Leeuwarder Courant". dekrantvantoen.nl. 1889-01-17. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  4. "Poetry of Motion – Valuable Instructions in the Art of Skating Fast and Gracefully | A family of American skaters | The Advantages of Straps Over Clamps in Racing | An American Boys Splendid Record The Pittsburg Dispatch, Feb. 10 1889, pg. 11
  5. "Joe Donoghue". SpeedSkatingStats.com. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
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