McLain Ward is an elite show jumper with four Olympic medals to his name, as well as gold medals from the World Championships, World Cup, and Pan American Games. He helped Team USA to take gold in the team jumping tournament at the 2004 and 2008 Games and silver at the 2016 and 2020 Games. He has won many Grand Prix events and is still winning them in 2023. He has topped the Longines rankings for best show jumper in the world, and at the time of writing, is ranked fourth.
Ward was born in Mount Kisco, New York, in October 1975 and grew up in the town of Brewster. His parents both worked in the horse industry and encouraged their young son to ride. He repaid their support when he was 14 by becoming the youngest-ever winner of the USEF Show Jumping Derby. Later that year, he became the youngest-ever winner of the USET Medals Final too — and the first rider to win both titles in one year. His success set a precedent as he later became the youngest-ever rider to win $1 million in Grand Prix prize money and, along with his horse Twist du Valon, the first rider-and-horse partnership to win the Hampton Classic Grand Prix in consecutive years.
Ward’s achievements made an Olympic appearance inevitable, and he first represented the United States in Athens in 2004, helping the team to win gold. They successfully defended their title in Beijing In 2008. In more recent years, Ward has won the individual gold for jumping at the World Cup and helped the United States to take team gold at the World Championships.
