Career
He competed as an American track and field athlete in a variety of the throwing events. He was part of a group of Irish-American athletes known as the "Irish Whales."
He also took part in the shot put (both hands) competition where the distance thrown with each hand was added together. This was the only time this event was held in the Olympic program, and McDonald finished second behind teammate Ralph Rose who had finished second to him in the shot competition.
McDonald returned 8 years later after World War I to compete in the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium.
Pat McDonald died in 1954 at age 75 and was interred at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New New York He was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2012.