William Dod facts for kids
 William Dod |
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| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's Archery | ||
Representing  Great Britain |
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| Olympic Games | ||
| Gold | 1908 London | Double York round |
William Dod (born July 18, 1867 – died October 8, 1954) was a British archer who became an Olympic champion. He won a gold medal in the men's double York round at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. He achieved this amazing win on his 41st birthday!
Early Life and Family History
William Dod was born in Bebington, a town in Cheshire, England. His family had a long history, and it was said they were related to Sir Anthony Dod. Sir Anthony was a knight who fought in the famous Battle of Agincourt with King Henry V. While some stories claim Sir Anthony led the English archers, it's more likely that Sir Thomas Erpingham was in charge.
William grew up with private teachers at home. His family was quite wealthy from the cotton trade, so he didn't need to work. This allowed him to enjoy his favorite sports, like golf and hunting. He started learning archery at the home of the Legh family, who lived near his family in Cheshire. The Leghs were very well-known in the sport of archery.
Becoming an Olympic Archer
William and his sister, Lottie Dod, didn't start competing in archery until 1906. That year, they moved from Cheshire to Berkshire in southern England. There, they joined a new club called the Welford Park archery club.
It took William less than three years to become an Olympic champion! During the 1908 Olympic competition, the weather was very challenging. On the first day, it rained heavily, but William handled it well and was ahead by 10 points. On the second day, the rain stopped, but strong winds started. William kept his focus and won the gold medal easily. He finished 47 points ahead of the second-place archer, Reginald Brooks-King.
Life After the Olympics
After his Olympic win, William Dod continued his success in archery. He won the Grand National Archery title, which was like the British national championship, in both 1909 and 1911.
William decided to stop competing in archery after the 1911 championship. He then went back to playing golf, which he also loved. In 1912, he did very well in the British Amateur Championship, reaching the fourth round.
When World War I began, William Dod joined the military. He first served as a private soldier in the Royal Fusiliers and spent a short time in the trenches. Later, he transferred to the Royal Navy. In 1915, he became an officer in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. He worked as an administrative officer in France for a year with the Royal Navy Air Service. However, he had to return home to England due to illness.
After World War II, William and Lottie Dod settled down in Westward Ho! in Devon. They enjoyed their retirement, often playing golf. In his eighties, William moved back to London. He passed away in Earl's Court in 1954.
