RyeGPT People of Note: Eddie Eagan: Boxer, Bobsledder, Olympian
RyeGPT People of Note is a series highlighting individuals who have a connection to the City of Rye. In the series we ask OpenAI’s ChatGPT to prepare a biography and explain the individual’s connection to Rye.
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Today, meet boxer, bobsledder and Olympian Eddie Eagan.
Edward Patrick Francis Eagan, known as Eddie Eagan, etched his name into the annals of sports history as one of the most versatile and accomplished athletes of his time as the only person to win a gold medal at both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games in different disciplines. Born on April 26, 1897, in Denver, Colorado, Eagan’s journey to athletic prominence began in his youth, marked by an unwavering determination and a natural talent that would see him excel across multiple disciplines.
Eagan’s early years were shaped by a passion for sports, particularly boxing and bobsledding. He showcased his pugilistic prowess as an amateur boxer, earning a gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium. In 1932, Eagan achieved a historic feat at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, where he became the first and only athlete to win gold medals in both the Summer and Winter Games, cementing his place in Olympic lore. His triumph as a member of the four-man bobsled team showcased his unparalleled versatility and prowess on the icy tracks despite taking up bobsled three weeks before the Games.
He graduated from Yale in 1921, then attended Harvard Law School and received a Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford. In 1927, he married Margaret Colgate, who was a member of the family that founded Colgate-Palmolive. He lived on Forest Avenue in Rye.
He attained the rank of lieutenant colonel during World War II, serving in the Air Force’s Air Transport Command. Later, he focused on a private law practice. In another unusual feat, in December 1948 he set a world record for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe by scheduled airlines.
Eagan passed away on June 14, 1967, in a New York City hospital and is buried in Greenwood Union Cemetery.
