George Stuart Dole (January 30, 1885 – September 6, 1928) was an American

wrestler Wrestling is a series of combat sports involving grappling-type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. Wrestling techniques have been incorporated into martial arts, combat sport ...

who competed in the

1908 Summer Olympics The 1908 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the IV Olympiad and also known as London 1908) were an international multi-sport event held in London, England, United Kingdom, from 27 April to 31 October 1908. The 1908 Games were ori ...

.George Dole Bio, Stats, and Results.
Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2 September 2016. In 1908, he won the gold medal in the

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featherweight class.

Early life

Dole was a

Swedenborgian The New Church (or Swedenborgianism) is any of several historically related Christian denominations that developed as a new religious group, influenced by the writings of scientist and mystic Emanuel Swedenborg (1688–1772). Swedenborgian or ...

, who moved to

Maine Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and north ...

after his father was called as rector of that denomination's church in

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. George was an identical twin and without the markings on the back, it is impossible to tell the difference between he and brother Louis. He wrestled and attended college at

Yale University Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the most prestigious in the wo ...

with his identical twin brother Louis. He was the sole four-time

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champion in its first 74 years. George won two AAU national titles, including a 1907 pin of

George Mehnert George Nicholas Mehnert (November 3, 1881 – July 8, 1948) was an American Amateur wrestling, wrestler who competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics and 1908 Summer Olympics. He was born in Newark, New Jersey. At the 1904 Olympics, he won ...

at 125, the 2-time Olympic champion’s only career loss. Dole beat out twin brother, Louis, and Mehnert, for honors as the College Wrestler of the Decade, 1901-1910, by Amateur Wrestling News. In 1907, George received Yale Wrestling’s “Y Award” in the first presentation other than to major sports (track, crew, football, baseball).

Olympics

The Dole family story says that the brothers flipped a coin to see which would go to the Olympics. Louis won, but he got sick, so George went in his place. At the

1908 Olympics The 1908 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the IV Olympiad and also known as London 1908) were an international multi-sport event held in London, England, United Kingdom, from 27 April to 31 October 1908. The 1908 Games were ori ...

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, he was the lone American in his weight class, competing against eleven Englishmen. No other country was represented. He advanced through three preliminary bouts and won the best-of-three falls final in only two bouts.

Later life

He coached at Yale and at various prep schools until 1917, when he joined the military. He was a commander on a World War I sub chaser and earned the

Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps' second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. The medal is eq ...

during his service. George was an economics professor at St. Lawrence University, until dying of a heart failure in 1928. In 1997, Dole was inducted into the

National Wrestling Hall of Fame The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum and hall of fame for amateur wrestling, headquartered in Stillwater, Oklahoma. In 2010, it began operating the Dan Gable Museum in Waterloo, Iowa. History The museum was awarded to Stillw ...

as a Distinguished Member.George Dole
''National Wrestling Hall of Fame''. Retrieved September 18, 2022.

References

1885 births 1928 deaths Wrestlers at the 1908 Summer Olympics American male sport wrestlers Olympic gold medalists for the United States in wrestling Medalists at the 1908 Summer Olympics Sportspeople from Ypsilanti, Michigan 20th-century American sportsmen {{US-wrestling-bio-stub