Career
In 1913 he established the first world record in hammer throw, which stood as a world record for 25 years and as an American record for 40 years. Ryan was part of Irish weight throwers known as the Irish Whales. In 1910 Ryan emigrated to America.
He had not established citizenship in time for the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, and so missed an opportunity.
The following year, however, at the curiously named Eccentric Fireman’s Games he established the first official IAAF world record for the event with a throw of 189 foot 6½" (5777m). This remained a world record for 25 years and an American record for forty years, being eventually beaten by Martin Engel in July 1953.
He came close at the Amateur Athletic Union on 26 June with a winning throw of 186 foot 9" (5692m), but took the record with a throw of 195 foot
4½" (5954m) on 11 July 1953.
He also took a silver medal in the now discontinued event of throwing a 56 pounds weight for distance, the only time this event was held at the Olympics. In 1924 he returned to Ireland to take over the family farm and remained there until his death in 1964.