Isaac (Ike) O’Brien joined Port Talbot YMCA Harriers as a teenager in 1923. His athletic career progressed rapidly despite his small stature. He was regarded as the greatest Welsh long-distance runner of his era. His many triumphs included winning the West Wales Marathon Championship in 1936/7/8/9 and the Welsh Marathon Championship in 1937/8/9. His time of 2 hours 45 minutes in 1939 was a new Welsh record.
He represented the British YMCA team in 1930 at Copenhagen and the British Workers team at the International Worker’s Olympiad in 1932 at Vienna.
He kept up his prodigious running regime throughout the war even though there was no competition. He suffered a serious accident while working in the Port Talbot Steelworks and passed away just days before his 40th birthday.
A framed tribute to him was unveiled at the Port Talbot YMCA in May 1945. He was recognized as a great-hearted runner who never spoke of his own prowess and was always ready to advise his fellow athletes.
— Written by John Davies