Nick Skelton
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| Full name | Nicholas David Skelton | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | British | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discipline | Show jumping | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born |
30 December 1957 Bedworth, Warwickshire, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Nicholas David Skelton, CBE (born 30 December 1957, Bedworth, Warwickshire) is a British former equestrian who competed in show jumping. He retired at the age of 59 years old, on 5 April 2017. He began riding at age 18 months and in 1975 took two team silvers and an individual gold at the Junior European Championships.
He has competed numerous times at the European Show Jumping Championships, winning three golds, three silvers and three bronzes both individually and with the British team over a 26-year time period. In 1980 he competed in the Alternative Olympics where he helped the British team to a silver medal. He currently holds the British Show Jumping High Jump record, which he set in 1978.
In 2012, at the age of 54, Skelton won the Olympic gold medal as part of the winning Great Britain team. In 2016, at the age of 58, Skelton won the Individual Olympic gold medal at his seventh Olympic Games.[1]
Education
Skelton was educated at Bablake School in the city of Coventry in Central England.[2]
Life and career
Nick Skelton began riding aged 18 months when he got his first pony, a Welsh Mountain called Oxo who was born in the same year as Skelton and lived to be 39; both Skelton's children learnt to ride on Oxo.[3]
Skelton rode in pony classes with little tuition before taking his pony to Ted and Liz Edgar for help when he was 14. He worked for and helped at The Edgars for two years before leaving school with no qualifications to work full-time for them. Skelton had plenty of early success with a horse called Maybe, but he went lame just before the Junior European Championships in 1975 and his place in the team looked lost, however O.K a reputedly ordinary horse substituted and Skelton won individual gold. After this Skelton began riding more of the Edgar horses, and in 1978 jumped just over 7-foot 7 inches to set a new British record at Olympia with Lastic. When Skelton partnered with St James the following year he broke into the senior GB team, of which he has been an integral part ever since.
In 1985 Skelton split from the Edgars and went on his own; his main horse at the time, Apollo, went with him and together they formed a partnership that won nearly all the top prizes in the sport, as well as many Championship medals. After Apollo, Skelton competed at the top level with many different horses before he teamed up with Dollar Girl in 1992 with the specific target of competing at the Barcelona Olympics. Despite the Olympics going badly for them, Skelton and Dollar Girl ultimately won the coveted World Cup Final in Gothenburg in 1995.
Skelton broke his neck in September 2000 which could have ended his show jumping career, but after retiring in 2001 he recovered and began competing again in 2002. Skelton returned to the saddle to partner Arko III, a horse he had been riding as a youngster before breaking his neck. Together Skelton and Arko won the British Open title in 2004 at the British Open Show Jumping Championships and many other top prizes. Their most disappointing moment came at the Athens Olympics in 2004 where they were leading until the final round.
After Arko retired, Skelton revisited an old friend and owner for support and new horses, Gary and Beverley Widdowson now own his competition horses that include Carlo 273, his European Individual Bronze medal partner, Big Star and Unique.[4]
He has written an autobiography, Only Falls And Horses,[5] and will soon publish an updated version.
He has two sons with his first wife Sarah Skelton (née Edwards) and both are active in horse racing.[6] Daniel is a National Hunt Trainer and Harry is a National Hunt Jockey who in 2009 became the youngest winner of The Irish Grand National on Niche Market.
He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2012 Birthday Honours for services to equestrian sport.[7][8]
Following his Olympic 2012 gold medal the post boxes in both Alcester, where he resides, and in Bedworth, where he was born, were painted gold in his honour.[9]
Skelton won gold in the 2016 Rio Olympics in the individual category. In doing so he became the oldest British Olympic gold medallist since 1908.[10] Following Skelton's success at the 2016 Rio Olympics, rail operator London Midland honoured him with a gold painted sign at Bedworth railway station.[11] Skelton received a nomination for the 2016 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award. He received 109,197 votes, placing him third.[12] He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to equestrianism.[13]
Major achievements
Skelton has had many successes at home and abroad and has ridden on over 164 Nations Cups teams (1978–2011). He has won various medals both as an Individual and as part of the teams in the Olympics, World Championships and European Championships between 1980 and 2016.
- Olympic Games
- Alternative Olympic Games
- 1980: Rotterdam. Team Silver medal with Maybe
- World championships
- European Championships
- 1985: Dinard. Team Gold medal and individual 4th with St. James
- 1987: St. Gallen. Team Gold medal and Individual Bronze medal with Apollo
- 1989: Rotterdam. Team Gold medal with Apollo
- 1991: La Baule. Team Silver medal with Phoenix Park
- 1993: Gijon. Team Silver medal with Dollar Girl
- 1995: St. Gallen. Team Silver medal with Dollar Girl
- 2011: Madrid. Team Bronze and individual Bronze medal with Carlo 273
- Junior European Championships
- Volvo World Cup Final
- 1995: Gothenburg. Winner with Dollar Girl
- Hickstead Derby
- 1987: Winner with J Nick
- 1988: Winner with Apollo
- 1989: Winner with Apollo
- King George V Gold Cup
- 1984: Winner with St. James
- 1993: Winner with Limited Edition
- 1996: Winner with Cathleen III
- 1999: Winner with Hopes are High
Skelton currently holds the British Show Jumping High Jump record, at 7 ft 7in 5/16th (2.32m) set at Olympia in 1978 with Lastic.
Horses
Top horses that Skelton has ridden include Maybe, If Ever, Apollo, St. James, Major Wager, Top Gun, Grand Slam, Phoenix Park, Dollar Girl, Limited Edition, Showtime, Tinka's Boy, Hopes are High, Russel and Arko III.
Skelton's current top flight horses are Big Star, Carlo 273 and Unique, all of which are owned by Beverley Widdowson.
Skelton won team Gold at his home Olympics in London 2012 with his horse Big Star, alongside Ben Maher, Peter Charles and Scott Brash.
Career statistics
Individual wins
| Year | Location | Class | Horse |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 |  | 2016 Olympics | Big Star |
| 2012 |  | GCT Grand Prix | Big Star |
 | Grand Prix | Carlo 273 | |
.svg.png){kind=small} | Grand Prix | Big Star | |
 | Grand Prix | Big Star | |
| 2011 |  | Grand Prix | Carlo 273 |
| 2008 |  | CN International Grand Prix | Arko III |
| Grand Prix | Arko | |
| 2007 |  | Global Champions Tour Grand Prix | Arko |
| 2006 | | Grand Prix | Arko |
 | Grand Prix | Arko | |
| 2005 | | World Cup Qualifier | Arko |
| Grand Prix | Arko | |
| 2004 |  | Grand Prix | Russell |
| The British Open | Arko | |
| Grand Prix | Russell | |
| 2003 |  | Grand Prix | Arko |
| 2002 | | Grand Prix | Arko |
| Grand Prix | Arko | |
| 2000 | | Grand Prix | Jalisco |
| 1999 | | King George V Gold Cup | Hopes Are High |
| 1998 |  | Grand Prix | Showtime |
| Grand Prix | Hopes Are High | |
 | Grand Prix | Hope Are High | |
| Du Maurier Grand Prix | Hopes Are High | |
| Grand Prix | Zalza | |
| 1997 | | Grand Prix | Showtime |
| Grand Prix | Showtime | |
| 1996 | | World Cup Qualifier | Dollar Girl |
| King George V Gold Cup | Cathleen III | |
| Grand Prix | Dollar Girl | |
| Grand Prix | Showtime | |
| Grand Prix | Dollar Girl | |
| Masters | Zalza | |
| 1995 |  | World Cup Final | Dollar Girl |
| Grand Prix | Showtime | |
| Grand Prix | Showtime | |
| Grand Prix | Showtime | |
 | Masters | Dollar Girl | |
| Grand Prix | Dollar Girl | |
| 1994 | | World Cup Qualifier | Dollar Girl |
| 1993 | | Grand Prix | Major Wager |
| World Cup Qualifier | Major Wager | |
| Grand Prix | Major Wager | |
| King George V Gold Cup | Limited Edition | |
| Grand Prix | Dollar Girl | |
| Everest Final | Showtime | |
| Grand Prix | Dollar Girl | |
| Du Maurier Grand Prix | Dollar Girl | |
| 1992 | | Grand Prix | Major Wager |
| Grand Prix | Major Wager | |
| Masters | Limited Edition | |
| 1991 | | Leading Showjumper of the Year | Phoenix Park |
| Masters | Phoenix Park | |
| Grand Prix | Phoenix Park | |
| 1990 |  | Grand Prix | Fiorella |
| Grand Prix | Fiorella | |
| Grand Prix | Phoenix Park | |
| Grand Prix | Top Gun | |
| Grand Prix | Grand Slam | |
| 1989 | | Hickstead Derby | Apollo |
| 1988 | | Hickstead Derby | Apollo |
| Grand Prix | Apollo | |
| Grand Prix | Apollo | |
| 1987 | | Hickstead Derby | J Nick |
| Grand Prix | Apollo | |
| 1985 | | World Cup Qualifier | St James |
| Du Maurier Grand Prix | St James | |
| Grand Prix | Apollo | |
| World Cup Qualifier | Apollo | |
| World Cup Qualifier | Apollo | |
| 1984 | | King George V Gold Cup | St James |
| 1983 | | World Cup Qualifier | St James |
| World Cup Qualifier | St James | |
| Grand Prix | If Ever | |
| 1979 | | World Cup Qualifier | Lastic |
| 1978 | | Leading Showjumper of the Year | Maybe |
Nation's Cup wins
| Year | Location | Horse |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | | Carlo 273 |
| 2008 | | Arko III |
| 2005 | | Arko III |
| 2005 | | Arko III |
| 2004 | | Russell |
| 2003 | | Arko III |
| 1997 | | Showtime |
| 1997 | | Showtime |
| 1997 | | Tinka's Boy |
| 1996 | | Cathleen III |
| 1996 | | Dollar Girl |
| 1996 | | Showtime |
| 1993 | | Limited Edition |
| 1992 | | Limited Edition |
| 1992 | | Dollar Girl |
| 1991 | | Phoenix Park |
| 1991 | | Phoenix Park |
| 1991 | | Apollo II |
| 1991 |  | Phoenix Park |
| 1990 | | Grand Slam |
| 1990 | | Grand Slam |
| 1990 | | Phoenix Park |
| 1990 | | Grand Slam |
| 1989 | | Serenade |
| 1989 | | Grand Slam |
| 1989 | | Grand Slam |
| 1989 | | Apollo |
| 1988 | | Apollo |
| 1988 | | Apollo |
| 1987 | | Airbourne |
| 1986 | | Apollo |
| 1986 | | Apollo |
| 1986 | | Apollo |
| 1986 | | Apollo |
| 1986 | | Airbourne |
| 1985 | | Apollo |
| 1985 | | Apollo |
| 1985 | | Apollo |
| 1984 | | St James |
| 1984 | | Apollo |
| 1983 | | St James |
| 1982 | | If Ever |
| 1981 | | Maybe |
| 1979 | | Maybe |
See also
References
- ↑ "Rio Olympics 2016: GB's Nick Skelton wins show jumping gold". BBC News. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ↑ "Former Pupil's 7th Olympic Bid". bablake.com. Bablake School. 22 July 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ↑ Jonathan Powell (3 January 2009). "Nick Skelton: I've been in six Olympics but watching my son ride a winner beats all that". Daily Mail. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ↑ "Home page of Nick Skelton's website". nickskelton.com. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ↑ Skelton, Nick (2001). Nick Skelton: My Autobiography – Only Falls and Horses. Greenwater Publishing. ISBN 978-1903267059.
- ↑ Eleanore Kelly (30 July 2016). "Nick Skelton banking on Olympic gold as his last hurrah ... with veteran showjumper taking inspiration from the racing successes of his two sons". Daily Mail. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ↑ "No. 60173". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 June 2012. p. 12.
- ↑ Nick Skelton awarded OBE Archived 17 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine., Victoria Spicer / horseandcountry.tv, 16 June 2012
- ↑ "Skelton's golden honour in home town of Alcester". BBC News. 8 August 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
- ↑ "GB's Nick Skelton wins show jumping gold". BBC Sport. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ↑ "Golden sign in Bedworth to celebrate show jumper's Olympic achievement". Nuneaton News. Local World. 5 September 2016. Archived from the original on 6 September 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ↑ "BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2016: Andy Murray wins for a record third time". BBC Sport. 18 December 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
- ↑ "No. 61803". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2016. p. N9.
Bibliography
- Skelton, N. (2001) Only Falls and Horses. Greenwater.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nick Skelton. |
{{Olympic champions – Equestrian team jumping}} {{Olympic champions – Equestrian individual jumping}}