Career
He competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics held in Saint Louis, Missouri, in the all-round, which consisted of 100 yd run, shot put, high jump, 880 yd walk, hammer throw, pole vault, 120 yd hurdles, 56 pounds weight throw, long jump and 1 mile run. Kiely was thirty-four at this time. The British team had approached him with promises of his fare and expenses, and American sponsorship was also offered but, as a committed nationalist, he decided to go on his own, representing his native country.
In America he had several more offers to join the American or British teams.
But again he declined and made it clear in statements carried in all the American papers of the time that he would represent only Ireland in the Olympic Games. As Ireland was not independent in 1904 the International Olympic Committee lists him as representative of the team of Great Britain and Ireland at the 1904 Summer Olympics.
All ten events were held on the same day.