Alex Danson facts for kids
.jpg)
Danson in 2013
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alexandra Mary Louise Danson-Bennett | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 21 May 1985 Southampton, Hampshire, England |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 56 kg (123 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Forward | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2018 | England | 203 | (62) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2018 | Great Britain | 103 | (53) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Medal record
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alexandra "Alex" Danson is a famous retired English hockey player. She was born on May 21, 1985. Alex played as a forward for both the England and Great Britain national teams. She is best known for winning a gold medal at the 2016 Olympic Games and a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympic Games.
Alex Danson played for several club teams during her career. These included Clifton Robinsons, Reading, and Trojans. She made her first international appearance for England on October 23, 2001, playing against Germany.
| Top - 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
Early Life and Education
Alex Danson went to two private schools. These were Yateley Manor Prep School and Farnborough Hill School. Farnborough Hill School is a Roman Catholic school for girls. The school even named their special hockey pitch after her to honor her achievements!
International Career Highlights
Alex Danson had a very successful career playing for her country. She played for both England and Great Britain.
Olympic Games
Alex is famous for her success at the Olympic Games.
- She won a gold medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. This was a huge achievement for her team.
- She also won a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics.
Other Major Tournaments
Alex also won many medals in other big hockey competitions:
- She won a gold medal at the 2015 European Championship in London.
- She earned silver medals at the 2012 Champions Trophy and the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
- She won several bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games, World Cup, and other European Championships.
Awards and Recognition
Alex Danson received many awards for her amazing hockey skills.
Special Honours
In 2017, Alex was given a special award called the MBE. This award is given to people who have done great things for their country. She received it for her services to hockey.
Later in 2017, Alex became the captain of the England Women's Hockey team. She led her team to the semi-finals of the World League.
Alex Danson Hockey Academy
Also in 2017, Alex started her own program called the Alex Danson Hockey Academy. This academy helps introduce young children to hockey through their schools. It aims to get more kids interested in playing hockey from a young age.
Player Awards
Alex was recognized many times for her individual performance:
- She was a runner-up for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Young Personality award in 2001.
- She was named to the FIH World All Star Team in 2011.
- She won the UK Female Player of the Year award from the Hockey Writers' Club in 2011.
- She was named Player of the Tournament at the 2014–15 FIH Hockey World League Semi-finals and the 2015 EuroHockey Nations Championship.
Retirement
Alex Danson played her last international match on August 2, 2018. This was against the Netherlands. It was her 306th game for England and Great Britain. She officially announced her retirement from playing hockey on February 20, 2020.
