Article

Walter Ewing

Published Online August 6, 2008

Last Edited September 30, 2016

Walter Hamilton Ewing, trapshooter (born 11 February 1878 in Montréal, QC; died 25 June 1945 in Montréal). Ewing won the gold medal in individual trap shooting at the 1908 Olympic Games in London, England.
Ewing, Walter
Trapshooter Walter Ewing, who represented Canada at the 1908 London Olympics, winning the gold medal. Media coverage for Ewing's event was sparse, and little was recorded about his Olympic career though he is now considered one of Canada's best marksmen at the turn of the century (courtesy Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, www.sportshall.ca).

Walter Hamilton Ewing, trapshooter (born 11 February 1878 in Montréal, QC; died 25 June 1945 in Montréal). Ewing won the gold medal in individual trap shooting at the 1908 Olympic Games in London, England. (The records of the Amateur Athletic Union of Canada claim incorrectly that Ewing won a gold medal at the 1900 Paris Olympics.) There is scant evidence of Walter Ewing's career, though indications are that he was one of Canada's best marksmen at the turn of the century. Even as a member of the 1908 Olympic team, Walter Ewing competed in relative obscurity as media attention was focused on the Canadian runner, Tom Longboat. Despite having to adjust to a more difficult style of shooting — British rules for the sport were used — Walter Ewing proved himself the most consistent competitor. He had a score of 72 points out of 80 for the 3-day event, 12 more than his nearest competitor, and won the gold medal.