Most of the track and field team was made up of Irish Americans and had no use for England and the monarchy. Matthew McGrath was a hammer thrower on the team and during the opening parade broke ranks and ran up the the flag bearer. He told the flag bearer that if he dipped that banner he would end up in the hospital that night. It was Martin Sheidan, another Irish American who spoke for the team when he said, “This flag dips to no earthly king.”