Great Britain at the 1908 Summer Olympics
Class Place Boat Sailors
6 metre 1st Dormy Gilbert Laws , Thomas McMeekin , Charles Crichton
6 metre 4th Sibindi Johan Leuchars , Wilfrid Leuchars , Frank Smith
7 metre 1st Heroine Charles Rivett-Carnac , Richard Dixon , Norman Bingley , Frances Rivett-Carnac
8 metre 1st Cobweb Blair Cochrane , Arthur Wood , Henry Sutton , John Rhodes , Charles Campbell
8 metre 3rd Sorais Philip Hunloke , Alfred Hughes , Frederick Hughes , George Ratsey , William Ward
12 metre 1st Hera T. C. Glen Coats ( helmsman ) , J. H. Downes ( mate ) , J. S. Aspin , John Buchanan , J. C. Bunten , A. D. Downes , David Dunlop , John Mackenzie , Albert Martin , Gerald Tait
12 metre 2nd Mouchette C. MacIver ( helmsman ) , J. G. Kenion ( mate ) , J. M. Adam , James Baxter , W. P. Davidson , J. F. Jellico , T. A. R. Littledale , C. R. MacIver , C. Macleod Robertson , J. F. D. Spence
Results by event -- Sailing
Main article : Sailing at the 1908 Summer Olympics Great Britain took all four of the sailing gold medals , without contest in the cases of the 7 metre class ( where only one boat entered ) and the 12 metre class ( where both boats were British ) .
Great Britain, represented by the British Olympic Association (BOA), competed as the host nation of the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. The British Olympic Association was the National Olympic Committee responsible for organizing the United Kingdom's representation. At the time British athletes competed under the team name United Kingdom. The British team comprised 676 competitors. A number of Irish athletes boycotted the games in protest at British refusals to grant Irish Home Rule. During the opening ceremony, American athletes did not dip their flag to the British royalty in support of the Irish boycott, a tradition the U.S. continues to this day. It was the fourth appearance of the country, which has not missed any of the Summer Olympic Games. The country finished in the Olympic table in first place for the first and only time in its history. The Men's field hockey on the 31st of October is the last time that Great Britain swept the medal podium at an Olympics, as of 2016.