Nick Woodbridge
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Lloyd "Nick" Woodbridge (born 1 July 1986 in Wellington, Shropshire
) is a British modern pentathlete
.The modern pentathlon includes the disciplines of shooting, swimming
, fencing
, equestrian
, and cross country running
. Woodbridge competed for Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Olympics
, in Beijing
, China, and finished 25th in the men's modern pentathlon
.
from the age of three and bought his own horse aged 11. In order to compete in Pony Club
tetrathlon
s he learnt how to shoot and by 13 he was also fencing with Much Wenlock Fencing Club.
In 1999 he competed in his first pentathlon at the National Championships,finishing third. In 2000 he won the National Championships and joined the Great Britain team for the first time. He won gold at the 2004 World Youth Championships in Bulgaria and took two medals in World Cup events and a top-20 finish at the 2006 World Championships whilst still a junior.
were forced to deselect Alex Parygin. Parygin had qualified for the Games by winning the Oceania Championships in Tokyo in 2007 however the show-jumping discipline was not contested at the event due to an outbreak of equine influenza. The British team challenged his inclusion, taking their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport
and when Parygin was withdrawn his place at the Games went to Woodbridge who was the highest ranked pentathlete not previously qualified.
Woodbridge and Sam Weale
became the first British men to compete in modern pentathlon at the Olympics since Richard Phelps in 1996. At the Games Woodbridge set a personal best of 1 minute 55.96 seconds in the 200 m freestyle swimming discipline. This was the second fastest time of anyone in the swimming and faster than the previous Olympic record. He finished 12th in the riding, 20th in the run, 29th in fencing and 35th in shooting earning a final overall score of 5168 points. He finished in 25th position, 464 points behind gold medallist Andrey Moiseyev of Russia
.
Wellington, Shropshire
Wellington is a town in the unitary authority of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England and now forms part of the new town of Telford. The population of the parish of Wellington was recorded as 20,430 in the 2001 census, making it the third largest town in Shropshire if...
) is a British modern pentathlete
Modern pentathlon
The modern pentathlon is a sports contest that includes five events: pistol shooting, épée fencing, 200 m freestyle swimming, show jumping, and a 3 km cross-country run...
.The modern pentathlon includes the disciplines of shooting, swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
, fencing
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
, equestrian
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
, and cross country running
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
. Woodbridge competed for Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Great Britain competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The United Kingdom was represented by the British Olympic Association , and the team of selected athletes was officially known as Team GB. Britain is one of only five NOCs to have competed in every Summer Olympic Games since 1896...
, in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, China, and finished 25th in the men's modern pentathlon
Modern pentathlon at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's
The men's Modern pentathlon competitions at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing were held on Thursday, August 21, at the Olympic Green Convention Center , Ying Tung Natatorium , and the Olympic Sports Center Stadium .The results of each of the five segments of the modern pentathlon were converted...
.
Modern Pentathlon
Woodbridge began swimming with Wellington Swimming Club and joined Telford Athletics Club. He rode horsesEquestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
from the age of three and bought his own horse aged 11. In order to compete in Pony Club
Pony Club
Pony Club is an international youth organization devoted to the educating youths about horses and riding. Pony Club organizations exist in over 30 countries worldwide...
tetrathlon
Tetrathlon
A tetrathlon is a team competition organized by The Pony Club for its members. It is a variant of the modern pentathlon, without fencing. Thus it comprises the four disciplines of shooting, swimming, riding and running.Teams typically consist of four members from one pony club branch competing...
s he learnt how to shoot and by 13 he was also fencing with Much Wenlock Fencing Club.
In 1999 he competed in his first pentathlon at the National Championships,finishing third. In 2000 he won the National Championships and joined the Great Britain team for the first time. He won gold at the 2004 World Youth Championships in Bulgaria and took two medals in World Cup events and a top-20 finish at the 2006 World Championships whilst still a junior.
2008 Summer Olympics
Woodbridge qualified for the 2008 Olympics after the Australian Olympic CommitteeAustralian Olympic Committee
The Australian Olympic Committee is the National Olympic Committee in Australia for the Olympic Games movement. It is a non-profit organisation that selects teams, and raises funds to send Australian competitors to Olympic events organised by the International Olympic Committee .-Background:The...
were forced to deselect Alex Parygin. Parygin had qualified for the Games by winning the Oceania Championships in Tokyo in 2007 however the show-jumping discipline was not contested at the event due to an outbreak of equine influenza. The British team challenged his inclusion, taking their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport
Court of Arbitration for Sport
The Court of Arbitration for Sport is an international arbitration body set up to settle disputes related to sport. Its headquarters are in Lausanne and its courts are located in New York, Sydney and Lausanne, Switzerland...
and when Parygin was withdrawn his place at the Games went to Woodbridge who was the highest ranked pentathlete not previously qualified.
Woodbridge and Sam Weale
Sam Weale
Samuel "Sammy" Weale is a British modern pentathlete who has competed at the Olympic Games. Weale competed for Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Olympics, in Beijing, China, and finished 10th in the men's modern pentathlon. His identical twin Chris is a goalkeeper who has played for Leicester City...
became the first British men to compete in modern pentathlon at the Olympics since Richard Phelps in 1996. At the Games Woodbridge set a personal best of 1 minute 55.96 seconds in the 200 m freestyle swimming discipline. This was the second fastest time of anyone in the swimming and faster than the previous Olympic record. He finished 12th in the riding, 20th in the run, 29th in fencing and 35th in shooting earning a final overall score of 5168 points. He finished in 25th position, 464 points behind gold medallist Andrey Moiseyev of Russia
Russia at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Russia competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics, held in Beijing, People's Republic of China, represented by the Russian Olympic Committee. Russia competed in all sports except baseball, football, field hockey, softball and taekwondo.-Medalists:...
.
See also
- Modern pentathlon at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men'sModern pentathlon at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men'sThe men's Modern pentathlon competitions at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing were held on Thursday, August 21, at the Olympic Green Convention Center , Ying Tung Natatorium , and the Olympic Sports Center Stadium .The results of each of the five segments of the modern pentathlon were converted...
- Great Britain at the 2008 Summer OlympicsGreat Britain at the 2008 Summer OlympicsGreat Britain competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The United Kingdom was represented by the British Olympic Association , and the team of selected athletes was officially known as Team GB. Britain is one of only five NOCs to have competed in every Summer Olympic Games since 1896...