Alex Danson facts for kids
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Danson in 2013
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| Full name | Alexandra Mary Louise Danson-Bennett | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 21 May 1985 Southampton, Hampshire, England |
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| Height | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 56 kg (123 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Forward | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2018 | England | 203 | (62) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2018 | Great Britain | 103 | (53) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Alexandra Mary Louise "Alex" Danson is a famous retired English field 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 known for her amazing skills and for scoring many goals throughout her career.
Alex played for several club teams, including Clifton Robinsons and Reading. She made her first international appearance for England on October 23, 2001, when she played against Germany.
Contents
Alex Danson's Hockey Journey
Early Life and School
Alex Danson went to two private schools: Yateley Manor Prep School and Farnborough Hill School. Farnborough Hill School, which is a Catholic school for girls, even named their all-weather hockey pitch after her! This shows how much of an impact she had, even from a young age.
Olympic Success
Alex Danson achieved incredible success at the Olympic Games. She won a gold medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro with the Great Britain team. Before that, she also earned a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympic Games held in London. These medals are highlights of her impressive career.
Captaincy and Academy
In 2017, Alex Danson was given a special honor: she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her contributions to hockey. Later that year, she became the captain of the England Women's Hockey team.
Also in 2017, Alex started the Alex Danson Hockey Academy. This academy helps introduce young children to hockey through their schools. Her goal was to get more kids interested in the sport and help them start playing from a young age.
Retirement from Hockey
Alex Danson played her final international match on August 2, 2018, against the Netherlands. This was her 306th game for England and Great Britain combined. She officially announced her retirement from playing hockey on February 20, 2020, after a long and successful career.
Major Achievements and Awards
Alex Danson won many medals and awards during her time as a hockey player. Here are some of her most important achievements:
Medals for Great Britain
- Olympic Games:
- Gold: 2016 Rio de Janeiro
- Bronze: 2012 London
- FIH Champions Trophy:
- Silver: 2012 Rosario
Medals for England
- EuroHockey Nations Championship:
- Gold: 2015 London
- Silver: 2013 Boom
- Bronze: 2005 Dublin, 2007 Manchester, 2009 Amstelveen, 2011 Monchengladbach, 2017 Amstelveen
- Commonwealth Games:
- Silver: 2014 Glasgow
- Bronze: 2006 Melbourne, 2010 Delhi, 2018 Gold Coast
- World Cup:
- Bronze: 2010 Rosario
- FIH Champions Trophy:
- Bronze: 2010 Nottingham
- FIH Champions Challenge I:
- Gold: 2002 Johannesburg
- Bronze: 2007 Baku
Club Honours
Alex also won titles with her club team, Reading Hockey Club:
- EuroHockey Club Champions Trophy: Winners in 2013
- Women's England Hockey League: Winners in 2010–11 and 2012–13
Individual Awards
Alex Danson received several individual awards for her outstanding performance:
- In 2011, she was named to the FIH World All Star Team.
- She was also recognized as the UK Female Player of the Year by the Hockey Writers' Club in 2011.
- In 2015, she was named Player of the Tournament at the EuroHockey Nations Championship.
- She was nominated for the FIH Women's Player of the Year in 2015.
