James Woodgate

Lore & Background

Woodgate grew up in the village of Shepperton in Surrey and attended Halliford School before studying Physics at the University of Warwick. He made his first international appearance for Great Britain in the 2019 season in the Under 18 age group at the European Youth Cup. That same season, he placed 17th at the 2019 World Archery Youth Championships in Madrid, Spain.

In 2021, following the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Woodgate was selected for the three-man British men's recurve team at the postponed 2020 Summer Olympics alongside Patrick Huston and Tom Hall. Great Britain finished 5th in the men's team event, and Woodgate finished 33rd in the men's individual event. After the Games, he competed at the 2021 World Archery Youth Championships in Wrocław, Poland, where he set a new UK junior record of 678/720 for the 70m qualification round, seeding 1st and finishing 9th after matchplay. He was also part of the senior men's recurve team that finished 6th at the 2021 World Archery Championships in Yankton, USA.

In the 2022 season, Woodgate represented Great Britain at both junior (Under 21) and senior events. He attended stages 1, 2, and 3 of the 2022 Archery World Cup and was part of the men's team that won gold at the 2022 European Youth Championships in Lilleshall, UK. In 2023, he competed in the men's individual and men's team events at the 2023 European Games in Kraków, Poland, and was also part of the British team at the 2023 World Archery Championships in Berlin, Germany.

Reader's Guide

James Woodgate's career marks a steady progression through junior and senior international ranks, culminating in Olympic selection at age 19. His performance at the 2020 Summer Olympics, where the British men's recurve team placed 5th, demonstrated his ability to compete at the highest level early in his career. The UK junior record of 678/720 set at the 2021 World Archery Youth Championships highlights his technical proficiency in the qualification round. Woodgate's concurrent participation in both junior (Under 21) and senior events in 2022, including multiple World Cup stages and a European Youth Championship gold, reflects his dual-track development. His appearances at the 2023 European Games and 2023 World Archery Championships further establish his presence in senior international competition. As a physics student at the University of Warwick, Woodgate represents a blend of academic and athletic commitment, and his trajectory from the European Youth Cup to the Olympic stage within three years underscores the rapid advancement possible in modern archery.

Did You Know?

• He studied Physics at the University of Warwick.
• Woodgate was part of the British men's recurve team that finished 5th at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
• He won gold in the men's team event at the 2022 European Youth Championships in Lilleshall, UK.