John Hoy

John Hoy wrestled lightweight freestyle at the 1908 London Olympics, losing to John Krug of the United States in the first round. A member of the German Gymnastic Society in London, he was one of six affiliated wrestlers of that organization, which eventually went on to win medals of all three colours, in George de Relwyskow (gold and silver) and Fred Beck (bronze).

Hoy was born in Kentish Town, London, one of ten children of railway clerk and timekeeper Frederick Hoy. John’s mother Ellen died when he was six-years-of age, and he was subsequently raised by his step-mother Isabel. Hoy served in World War I with the Royal Engineers and was a carpenter by profession. Married in 1910, he had one son and two daughters, and continued to reside in the London area until his death in 1925, two days short of his 40th birthday.