Fiona Bigwood

Fiona Bigwood, born on April 24, 1976, in Camberwell, United Kingdom, has established a notable career in equestrian dressage. Her early training included riding Tanya Larrigan’s Grand Prix horse, Salute, by the age of 10. Bigwood competed in the 1993 Junior European Championships and the Young Rider European Championships, demonstrating early promise in the sport. She received her education at Croydon High School and further refined her skills through training in Denmark.

Bigwood made history in 1997 by becoming the youngest British rider ever selected for a Senior European Championships at just 21 years old. That same year, she secured the British National Elementary title with Afrikka and was shortlisted for the 1998 World Equestrian Games. She continued to achieve success at international levels, including participating in the 2010 World Equestrian Games, where she earned team silver, and four European Dressage Championships in 1999, 2005, 2007, and 2015, where she secured another team silver. A turning point in her career occurred in 2014 when she sustained a concussion from a fall, resulting in double vision. Despite this, she continued to compete, notably wearing an eye patch while riding.

Her resilience culminated in a significant achievement at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, where she earned a silver medal in the team dressage event with her horse, Atterupgaards Orthilia. Following the Olympics, Orthilia was sold. Bigwood has also developed other notable horses throughout her career, including Mr G de Lully and Wie-Atlantico De Ymas, who contributed to her team successes. More recently, in 2024, she earned a gold medal at the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses with Quinn G, highlighting her ongoing commitment to and success within the sport.