Nick Skelton is a world-renowned equestrian born on 30 December 1957 in Bedworth, United Kingdom. He is regarded as one of the greatest show jumpers of all time, with a successful career spanning over four decades. Skelton’s natural talent for equestrianism became apparent from a young age and he quickly made a name for himself in the equestrian world.
Skelton’s illustrious career is dotted with numerous accomplishments and accolades. He was a member of the British equestrian team for over two decades and represented his country in seven Olympic Games, winning two gold medals – the first at Rio in 2016, when he was 58 – and a silver, in addition to numerous other accolades. Skelton also won two team gold and three individual silver medals at the European Championships and a team gold at the World Equestrian Games.
One of Skelton’s most memorable moments came in the summer of 2016 at the Rio Olympic Games. He rode the incredible stallion ‘Big Star’ to win gold in the individual show jumping, catapulting himself into the annals of Olympic history. This feat made him the oldest individual Olympic gold medallist for more than 100 years.
Skelton’s riding ability is marked by his exceptional balance, strength and timing, coupled with his unwavering determination and passion for the sport. Despite multiple injuries throughout his career, Skelton persevered and continued to push the limits of equestrianism, leaving both his fans and competitors in awe.
After retiring from competitive show jumping in 2017, Skelton now focuses on breeding and training horses as well as imparting his knowledge and experience to future generations of equestrians. Skelton’s contribution to equestrianism has been recognized by the sport’s international governing body, the FEI, and he was awarded the prestigious ‘FEI Lifetime Achievement Award’ in December 2019.
Nick Skelton’s impressive achievements, skill and unwavering dedication to equestrianism have cemented his place in the equestrian hall of fame.
