S2E10: Paddy McGrath Olympic Hammer Coach
Dublin born Paddy McGrath represented his native country at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. For many, that pinnacle achievement would represent an end point to the pursuit of glory in an athletic career. Most, who chase perfection in the hammer throwing circle, leave the sport for more lucrative endeavors. While Paddy hung up his hammer glove some 20 years ago, he has continued his involvement in the sport giving back to an event that provided him a college education in the form of an athletic scholarship to Manhattan College in New York.
Hear how Paddy become one of the gurus of hammer throwing and how one of his charges may make a trip to the Olympic podium in Tokyo
Paddy McGrath Links:
00:00 - Introduction
03:47 - What is the hammer throw?
05:45 - How Paddy became a hammer thrower
08:06 - Manhattan College scholarship
09:24 - Paddy's first throw
10:56 - Influx of Irish hammer throwers
12:22 - How the event has grown in America
13:20 - Irish hammer throwing in America
15:31 - Paddy at Manhattan College
16:31 - Differences in hammer technique
18:30 - Paddy's post collegiate career
20:43 - Hammer thrower mindset
22:14 - Gracefulness and the hammer
24:44 - Sydney Olympic experience
26:42 - Beginning coaching
30:10 - Bad throws and the positive feedback loop
32:43 - Paddy's Irish-American identity
36:05 - New York Hammer Throw Squad
38:44 - Keeping hammer throwing viable
41:55 - America a dominant hammer power?
45:03 - Protégé: Rudy Winkler
47:06 - Hammer Movie: Geordie
48:20 - Preparing Rudy for the Olympics
50:18 - Paddy's "Seamus Plug"
51:37 - John and Martin's recap
55:41 - Production & Music Credits
Hammer Coach
McGrath represented his native Ireland in the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and was a six-time Irish National Champion in the hammer throw, earning a top 50 IAAF world ranking (2004) and a USATF second place finish (2003) in the event. He also participated in the 1999 World Track and Field Championships and the 1998 European Championships. A three-time Division I All-American, McGrath was a threat in both the hammer and 35-pound weight events, earning All-East recognition eight times, four in each category.
McGrath first served on the Manhattan staff as a volunteer assistant coach from 1995-99, before joining Iona as an assistant coach for six years. He served as head track and field coach at Briarcliff High School from 2010-2017, while also working as a physical education teacher in the Bronx. In 2016, McGrath coached U.S. team member Rudy Winkler in the hammer throw at the Rio Olympics.
With experience at the international, collegiate and high school levels, McGrath has mentored NCAA, Senior National, Junior, and Youth champions. Ten of his athletes have won high school national titles, and four have claimed New York State championships. McGrath also coached Track and Field News' 2013 High School Boys Athlete of the Year. In 2019, three of his Manhattan throwers qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field East Regionals.
McGrath was inducted into the Manhattan College Hall of Fame in 2008.
