Willie Foster

Full name: William "Willie" Foster
Gender: Male
Born: July 10, 1890 in Haslingden, Bacup, Lancashire, Great Britain
Died: December 17, 1963 in Fylde, Blackpool, Great Britain
Affiliations: Bacup Amateur Swimming Club, Rossendale (GBR)
Country: Great Britain
Sport: Swimming

Medals: 1 Gold, 1 Bronze (2 Total)

Biography

Exactly two weeks after his 18th birthday, William Foster was on a winning relay team at the 1908 Games and remains, through 2008, the youngest ever male British Olympic gold medalist. He originally competed for his home-town club Bacup SC before joining Hyde Seal and although he never won an ASA title he was in the top flight of British swimmers for a number of years.

Results

Games	Age	City	Sport	Event	Team	NOC	Rank	Medal
1908 Summer	17	London	Swimming	Men's 400 metres Freestyle	Great Britain	GBR	4
1908 Summer	17	London	Swimming	Men's 1,500 metres Freestyle	Great Britain	GBR	3 h1 r2/3
1908 Summer	17	London	Swimming	Men's 4 × 200 metres Freestyle Relay	Great Britain	GBR	1	Gold	WR
1912 Summer	21	Stockholm	Swimming	Men's 400 metres Freestyle	Great Britain	GBR	3 h1 r2/3
1912 Summer	21	Stockholm	Swimming	Men's 1,500 metres Freestyle	Great Britain	GBR	3 h2 r2/3
1912 Summer	21	Stockholm	Swimming	Men's 4 × 200 metres Freestyle Relay	Great Britain	GBR	3	Bronze

Men's 400 metres Freestyle

Event History

Games	Age	City	Sport	Country	Phase	Unit	Rank		T
1908 Summer	17	London	Swimming	Great Britain	Final		4
1908 Summer	17	London	Swimming	Great Britain	Semi-Finals	Heat Two	2	QU	5:52.2
1908 Summer	17	London	Swimming	Great Britain	Round One	Heat Two	1	QU	5:54.8
1912 Summer	21	Stockholm	Swimming	Great Britain	Semi-Finals	Heat One	3		5:49.0
1912 Summer	21	Stockholm	Swimming	Great Britain	Round One	Heat Six	2	QU	5:52.4

Men's 1,500 metres Freestyle

Event History

Games	Age	City	Sport	Country	Phase	Unit	Rank		T
1908 Summer	17	London	Swimming	Great Britain	Semi-Finals	Heat One	3
1908 Summer	17	London	Swimming	Great Britain	Round One	Heat Seven	1	QU	24:33.4
1912 Summer	21	Stockholm	Swimming	Great Britain	Semi-Finals	Heat Two	3		23:32.2
1912 Summer	21	Stockholm	Swimming	Great Britain	Round One	Heat Five	2	QU	23:52.2

Men's 4 × 200 metres Freestyle Relay

Event History

Games	Age	City	Sport	Team	NOC	Phase	Unit	Rank		T
1908 Summer	17	London	Swimming	Great Britain	GBR	Final		1	WR	10:55.6
1908 Summer	17	London	Swimming	Great Britain	GBR	Semi-Finals	Heat Two	1	QU	10:53.4
1912 Summer	21	Stockholm	Swimming	Great Britain	GBR	Final		3		10:28.6
1912 Summer	21	Stockholm	Swimming	Great Britain	GBR	Round One	Heat One	3	QC	10:39.4

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