Nick Sweeney

{{short description|Irish discus thrower}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=August 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name = Nick Sweeney | image = | caption = | nationality = Irish | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1968|03|26}}<ref name="sportref"/> | birth_place = Dublin, Ireland<ref name="sportref"/> | sport = Athletics | event = Discus throw | club = DSD AC, Dublin / Belgrave Harriers | death_date = | death_place = | height =198 cm | weight =120 kg }} {{CompetitionRecordTableTop}} {{CompetitionRecordSport | Discus}} {{CompetitionRecordCountry | {{IRL}} }} {{CompetitionRecordCompetition|Olympic Games}} {{CompetitionRecordQualifier | 1992 Summer Olympic Games | }} {{CompetitionRecordQualifier | 1996 Summer Olympic Games | }} {{CompetitionRecordQualifier | 2000 Summer Olympic Games | }} {{CompetitionRecordQualifier | 2004 Summer Olympic Games | }} {{CompetitionRecordCompetition|European Athletics Championships}} {{CompetitionRecord|4th| 1994 European Athletics Championships | }} {{CompetitionRecordCompetition|British National Championships (AAA)<ref name="GBR">[http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/aaa.htm GBR Athletics - AAA CHAMPIONSHIPS (MEN)]</ref>}} {{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1995 | }} {{CompetitionRecordCompetition|Irish National Championships}} {{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1987 | }} {{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1991 | }} {{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1992 | }} {{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1993 | }} {{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1994 | }} {{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1995 | }} {{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1996 | }} {{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1997 | }} {{CompetitionRecord|1st| 1999 | }} {{CompetitionRecord|1st| 2000 | }} {{CompetitionRecordBottom}}

'''Nicholas Sweeney''' (born 26 March 1968) is a retired Irish discus thrower who represented his native country in four consecutive Summer Olympics, starting 1992 (Barcelona, Spain). He is the current Irish national record holder in the discus (67.89 m) and won a total number of ten Irish national discus titles (1987, 1991–1997, 1999–2000).<ref>[http://www.athleticsireland.ie/content/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/Outdoor%20ROH.pdf List of Irish National Champions] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720010256/http://www.athleticsireland.ie/content/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/Outdoor%20ROH.pdf |date=20 July 2011 }}</ref> He finished 6th at the 1993 World Championships in Stuttgart.

== Biography == Sweeney went to school in Wesley College, Dublin where he was introduced to athletics and discus throwing through the then P.E. coach Dan Kennedy. Sweeney showed promise early on and eventually became the Irish schools record holder at senior level. After finishing his school studies he took a year out before traveling to the United States, to Harvard College where he completed a four-year degree. While there, Sweeney competed for the Harvard Crimson track and field team in the NCAA.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://harvardvarsityclub.org/hall-of-fame/nicholas-n-sweeney/|title=Nicholas N. Sweeney|website=harvarddvarsityclub.org}}</ref>

As an athlete, Sweeney was affiliated to DSD AC, Dublin and Belgrave Harriers, Wimbledon (in England).<ref name="sportref">[https://web.archive.org/web/20200418024123/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sw/nick-sweeney-1.html profile at sportsreference.com]</ref>

Sweeney won the British AAA Championships title at the 1995 AAA Championships.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm |title=AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists |website=National Union of Track Statisticians |access-date=28 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/aaa.htm |title=AAA Championships (men) |website=GBR Athletics |access-date=28 June 2025}}</ref>

He presently lives and works in Boston, USA.{{citation needed|date=June 2025}}

== Achievements == {| {{AchievementTable}} |- !colspan="5"|Representing {{IRL}} |- |1994 |European Championships |Helsinki, Finland |4th |63.76 m |- |1998 |European Championships |Budapest, Hungary |13th |60.36 m |- |2000 |Olympic Games |Sydney, Australia |36th |57.37 m |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/olympics/irish/athletics-sweeney.htm Profile]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sweeney, Nick}} Category:1968 births Category:Living people Category:Irish men discus throwers Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1992 Summer Olympics Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1996 Summer Olympics Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2000 Summer Olympics Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2004 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic athletes for Ireland Category:Universiade medalists in athletics (track and field) Category:Athletes from Dublin (city) Category:Harvard College alumni Category:FISU World University Games bronze medalists for Ireland Category:People educated at Wesley College, Dublin Category:Medalists at the 1993 Summer Universiade Category:20th-century Irish sportsmen Category:Harvard Crimson men's track and field athletes