laura collett

Laura Collett, born on August 31, 1989, in Leamington Spa, England, developed an early passion for equestrianism. Her talent was evident from a young age, winning the supreme pony title at the Horse of the Year Show in 2003 when she was just 13. Collett continued to achieve significant success in her youth career, securing nine medals including three individual golds: in the juniors in 2006 on Fernhill Sox, in the juniors in 2007 on Rayef, and in the young riders in 2009, also on Rayef. These early achievements laid the foundation for her professional career in eventing.

Collett’s professional career has been marked by both triumphs and notable challenges. In 2013, she experienced a severe fall from her horse that resulted in serious injuries, including a fractured shoulder, broken ribs, a punctured lung, a lacerated liver, and kidney damage, leading to a medically induced coma. Despite the gravity of the accident, she demonstrated remarkable recovery, returning to competition within weeks and winning her first event post-fall. This determination has defined her journey, leading to sustained performance at the highest level of the sport.

Her career highlights include multiple Olympic medals and victories at prestigious events. Collett, riding London 52, earned a gold medal in the team event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, a momentous achievement after the event was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. She followed this with another team gold and an individual bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. In 2022, she won the Badminton Horse Trials, setting a record-breaking finishing score of 21.4. Her consistent success and dedication to the sport earned her an MBE in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to equestrianism.