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John Mary Pius BolandBritish politician and tennis player
Date of Birth: 16.09.1870
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
Biography of John Pius Boland
Early Life and EducationJohn Pius Boland was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1870. He attended Trinity College, Dublin, and later the University of Oxford, where he studied law.
Tennis Career
While studying at Oxford, Boland participated in the 1896 Summer Olympics held in Athens, Greece. Competing in both the singles and doubles tennis tournaments, he emerged victorious in both competitions.
Olympic Achievements
In the singles tournament, Boland defeated Friedrich Traun in the first round, Evangelos Rallis in the quarterfinals, Konstantinos Paspatis in the semifinals, and Dionisios Kasdaglis in the final. This victory marked the first time an athlete from Great Britain won a gold medal at the Olympic Games.
In the doubles tournament, Boland partnered with Traun. They advanced to the final, where they defeated another Greek pair, Kasdaglis and Demetrios Petrokokkinos, to earn their second gold medal of the Games.
Political Career
After the Olympics, Boland pursued a career in politics. He was elected as a Member of Parliament for South Kerry in 1900 and held the seat until 1918.
Later Life
Boland continued to engage in public service throughout his life. He served as Lord Mayor of Dublin from 1906 to 1908 and as President of the Gaelic Athletic Association from 1901 to 1904.
Boland passed away in 1958 at the age of 88. His legacy as an Olympic champion and dedicated politician is remembered to this day.
