George Bonhag

Who was George Bonhag?

George Valentine Bonhag was an American athlete and a member of the Irish American Athletic Club and the New York City Police Department.

He was born in Boston and died in New York City.

Bonhag competed in distance events, both racewalking and running, and was a member of the U.S. Olympic team in four Olympic Games.

An announcement in the August 6, 1904 issue of The New York Times indicated that the Metropolitan Association of the Amateur Athletic Union would hold a "special five-mile race" at Celtic Park on August 13, 1904 with the eight top finishers receiving a paid trip to compete in the marathon at the Olympic Games in St. Louis on August 30, 1904. Bonhag, listed as representing the Greater New York Irish Athletic Association, was named as one of 19 "probable competitors" in the event.

In the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri, he competed in the 800 metres race but his exact result is unknown. In the 1906 Intercalated Games held in Athens, Greece he won the gold medal in the 1500 metre walk, the first time he ever competed in this event. In the 5 miles event he finished fourth, and in the 1500 metre competition he finished sixth.