Eddie Eagan


Edward Patrick Francis Eagan was an American sportsman who is notable as being the only person to win a gold medal at both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games in different disciplines. Eagan won his summer gold in boxing and his winter gold in four-man bobsled. Finally, Eagan is one of the few athletes who have competed in both the Summer and Winter Olympic games.

Olympics

Eagan was born into a modest family in Denver, Colorado. In 1920, he competed as a boxer at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, and won the gold medal in the light-heavyweight division. Eagan's other boxing awards include the 1919 AAU title and a British amateur title. He also competed at the 1924 Summer Olympics, but failed to medal, having lost in the first round to Arthur Clifton.

Winter Olympics

Eagan returned to the Olympics eight years later, this time as a member of the bobsleigh crew of Billy Fiske, who steered to victory at the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. Eagan became the first of five Olympians to medal in both Winter and Summer Games, followed by Jacob Tullin Thams, Christa Luding-Rothenburger, Clara Hughes, and Lauryn Williams. Eagan is one of two competitors to win gold in both Olympic seasons.

Personal life

Eagan graduated Yale in 1921, then studied law at Harvard University and later at the University of Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oxford in 1928. In 1932, he was admitted to the U.S. Bar.
During World War II, he fought with U.S. Army on many fronts, reaching the rank of Colonel and earning numerous decorations.
Eddie Eagan was a guest on the television show "I've Got A Secret" as one of five former Olympic champions which aired October 13, 1954.
He died at age 70 in New York City and was interred at Greenwood Union Cemetery.