James Brendan Bennet Connolly from South Boston, USA, poses with a flag at the first modern International Summer Olympic Games held at the Panathinaiko Stadium on April 6, 1896 in Athens, Greece where he won the gold medal in triple jump with 13.71 meters. (AP Photo)
James Brendan Connolly (1868-1957) was the first winner of an Olympic Medal in the modern Olympic Games, a veteran of the charge up San Juan Hill during the Spanish-American War, candidate for Congress in 1911 (Progressive Party), and one of America’s foremost writers of maritime tales, having authored some 25 full-length works and more than 200 contributions to journals and newspapers. He also served with the Savannah District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and most importantly was born in South Boston, MA.
Scavenger in Southie 