On July 24, 1909, at the age of 41, Flanagan set his last world record in the hammer, with a throw of 56.18 meters. Flanagan quit the police force in 1910, after his public office squad was abolished and he was transferred to the West 68th Street Station and forced to walk a beat along Central Park West, giving him no time to train and compete. He returned home to Limerick in 1911 and took over the family farm following the death of his father in 1912. He continued to compete in Ireland and won his final international event when competing against Scotland in 1911. He also won the Irish Hammer Championships of 1911 and 1912. Following his retirement, he coached a number of athletes, including Patrick O'Callaghan, who went on to win two Olympic gold medals in the hammer throw at the 1928 and 1932 games. He died at home in Limerick, aged 70, on 3 June 1938. A statue of Flanagan was erected beside Martinstown Church in Limerick in 2001. References External links Irish America Archives - NYU Winged Fist Organization John Flanagan - Modern Hercules 1873 births 1938 deaths American male hammer throwers Irish male hammer throwers Irish emigrants to the United States (before 1923) Athletes (track and field) at the 1900 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 1904 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 1908 Summer Olympics Tug of war competitors at the 1908 Summer Olympics Olympic tug of war competitors of the United States Olympic gold medalists for the United States in track and field Olympic silver medalists for the United States in track and field Sportspeople from County Limerick New York City Police Department officers Male weight throwers Medalists at the 1908 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 1904 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 1900 Summer Olympics Olympic weight throwers Track and field athletes from New York City