[1] Kiely won gold in the all-round at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri representing Great Britain and Ireland, making him the first multi-event track and field champion of the Modern Olympic Games Kiely was born in Ballyneale, Co. Tipperary, Ireland.

He attended Ballyneale National School, where he started to take part in Gaelic football, hurling, and athletics.

He won the gold medal,[6] becoming the first multi-event track and field champion in the Modern Olympic Games.

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, Ireland.

[2] In 2016 his gold medal was displayed at the Gaelic Athletic Association's Museum as part of the Irish Olympians exhibition.