Winner of Canada’s first gold medal in the Pole Vault.

At the 1908 Olympics in London, England, Archibald was captain of the Canadian team and carried the Red Ensign into the stadium for the Parade of Nations. He went on to redeem himself from his experience four years previous and jumped 3.58m to capture the pole vault bronze medal, Canada’s first, and so far, only Olympic medal in the pole vault.

Archibald’s first major pole vault result was as a student at the University of Toronto in 1905, setting an intercollegiate record of 3.10m, and later a world record of 3.79m. He won the 1908 Canadian, British and Amateur Athletic Union pole vault titles.

During the First World War, Archibald served as director of Recreation, Sports and Social Work with the Canadian Army in France, providing activity for soldiers. After the war, he worked as sports editor at The Ottawa Journal and remained active in sports for his entire life, becoming the first president of the Ottawa and District Hockey Association.

Ed Archibald was a member of Canada’s 1908 Olympic Team in London, where he was awarded the bronze medal, along with 2 others, in the pole vault with a 3.58m result. Ed also competed at the 1906 Intercalated Games (Olympic Games) in Athens, Greece, where he placed 7th in the Pentathlon.

Ed held the Canadian and Commonwealth records in the pole vault for a 3.78m result that same year.

To go along with a 1908 Canadian Championship title in the pole vault, he won the hammer with a throw of 39.34m, and set the Canadian record in the javelin with a throw of 40.14m.