Great Britain at the 1908 Summer Olympics

Infobox Olympics Great Britain
games=1908 Summer
competitors=
sports=
flagbearer=
gold=56
silver=51
bronze=39
total=146
rank=1

The United Kingdom was the host nation of the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. The British Olympic Association was the National Olympic Committee responsible for organizing the United Kingdom's representation. At the time British athletes competed under the team name "United Kingdom". [cite book|last=Cook|first=Theodore Andrea|title=1908 Olympics Official Report|url=http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1908/1908.pdf|pages=48|publisher=British Olympic Association|year=1908]

A number of Irish athletes boycotted the games in protest at British refusals to grant Irish independence. During the opening ceremony, American athletes did not dip their flag to the British royalty in support of the Irish boycott, a tradition the U.S. continues to this day. [About.com, [http://history1900s.about.com/library/weekly/aa081000e.htm The History of the Olympics: 1908 - London, England] ]

It was the fourth appearance of the country, which has not missed any of the Summer Olympic Games.

Results by event

Archery

In the archery competition, the British team dominated the two events (one for men, one for women) popular in their country, winning both championships and second places as well as one third place, losing only a single bronze medal to the United States. British women were the only ones to compete in the women's event. Great Britain had 41 archers present, 25 women and 16 men; they totalled 42 entries over all three events held.

Brother and sister William and Lottie Dod took gold and silver medals, Queenie Newall taking the women's gold to become the oldest female gold medallist in Olympic history (a record she holds through the 2004 Summer Olympics), and the only Irish woman present at the 1908 Games won the women's bronze medal.

The British did not do as well in the Continental style, dominated by the French team, with the only Briton taking 12th place. Robert Backhouse, however, shot a score in a friendly demonstration that would have placed him second had he been in actual competition.

Throwing

Cycling

Great Britain won 5 of a possible 7 gold medals in the cycling competitions, losing only the men's tandem to France and the men's sprint by exceeding the time limit (though a French cyclist finished first in that event as well).

Gymnastics

Lacrosse

Great Britain lost the only lacrosse match played in 1908 to Canada, earning the silver medal.

Rowing

hooting

Water motorsports

Great Britain had a boat finish in each of two races in the water motorsports competitions, thereby winning two gold medals in the midst of a gale. No British boat finished in the third race, leaving the final gold medal to France, which competed only in the open class.

Notes

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