Nick Skelton

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Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Template:Use British English Script error: No such module "Infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Nicholas David Skelton (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 26 years. 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.

His most notable successes occurred in back-to-back Olympic Games in the swansong of his career. In 2012, at the age of 54, Skelton won an Olympic gold medal as part of the Great Britain team. Four years later, he won the individual Olympic gold medal at his seventh Olympic Games.[1] Having won both team and individual Olympic gold, Skelton and his horse, Big Star, retired together shortly after the 2016 Games.

Education

Born in Bedworth, north Warwickshire, Skelton was educated at Bablake School in the city of Coventry in Central England.[2]

Career

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, a reputedly ordinary horse, O.K., was brought in as a substitute and Skelton won individual gold. After this, he began riding more of the Edgar horses and in 1978, at Olympia, jumped just over 7 foot 7 inches on Lastic to set a new British record, which still stands. When Skelton partnered with St James the following year he broke into the senior GB team, of which he remained an integral part until his retirement.

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.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". 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.

In September 2000, Skelton broke his neck in a fall while competing. The injury was serious and 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 ridden before breaking his neck. 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 but finished out of the medals.

After Arko retired, Skelton revisited an old friend and owner, Gary Widdowson, for support and new horses. Gary and his wife Beverley bought, or co-bought with Skelton, a number of competition horses including Carlo 273, Skelton's European Individual Bronze medal partner, Big Star and Unique.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5] Following Skelton's success at the 2016 Rio Olympics, rail operator London Midland honoured him with a gold-painted sign at Bedworth railway station.[6] Skelton received a nomination for the 2016 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award. He received 109,197 votes, placing him third.[7] He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to equestrianism.[8]

Major achievements

File:Nick Skelton mit Carlo, CSI 5 Hamburg 2012.JPG
Nick Skelton with Carlo, 2012 CSI 5* Hamburg
File:Nick Skelton on Arko.jpg
Nick Skelton with Arko

Skelton has had many successes at home and abroad and has ridden on over 164 Nations Cups teams (1978–2011).Script error: No such module "Unsubst". 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
    • 2012: London. Team Gold medal with Big Star
    • 2016: Rio. Individual Gold medal with Big Star
  • Alternative Olympic Games
    • 1980: Rotterdam. Team Silver medal with Maybe
  • World championships
    • 1982: Dublin. Team Bronze medal with If Ever
    • 1986: Aachen. Team Silver medal and individual Bronze medal with Apollo
    • 1990: Stockholm. Team Bronze medal with Grand Slam
    • 1998: Rome. Team Bronze medal with Hopes are High
  • 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
    • 1974: Lucerne. Team Silver medal with Maybe
    • 1975: Dornbirn. Team Silver medal and individual Gold medal with O.K.
  • Volvo World Cup Final
  • 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

File:Nick Skelton & Arko III - Dublin CSIO5* - Aug. 2008.jpg
Nick Skelton & Arko III, Dublin 2008

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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 Template:Flagicon Rio. Brazil 2016 Olympics Big Star
2012 Template:Flagicon Hamburg, Germany GCT Grand Prix Big Star
Template:Flagicon La Baule, France Grand Prix Carlo 273
Template:Flagicon Antwerp, Belgium Grand Prix Big Star
Template:Flagicon Palm Beach, USA Grand Prix Big Star
2011 Template:Flagicon St Gallen, Switzerland Grand Prix Carlo 273
2008 Template:Flagicon CSIO Spruce Meadows 'Masters' Tournament, Spruce Meadows, Canada CN International Grand Prix Arko III
Template:Flagicon Grobbendonk, Belgium Grand Prix Arko
2007 Template:Flagicon Estoril, Portugal Global Champions Tour Grand Prix Arko
2006 Template:Flagicon Lucerne, Switzerland Grand Prix Arko
Template:Flagicon Rome, Italy Grand Prix Arko
2005 Template:Flagicon Leipzig, Germany World Cup Qualifier Arko
Template:Flagicon Spruce Meadows, Canada Grand Prix Arko
2004 Template:Flagicon Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead, Great Britain Grand Prix Russell
Template:Flagicon British Open Show Jumping Championships, Sheffield, Great Britain The British Open Arko
Template:Flagicon Royal Windsor, Great Britain Grand Prix Russell
2003 Template:Flagicon Leeuwarden, The Netherlands Grand Prix Arko
2002 Template:Flagicon Portimao, Portugal Grand Prix Arko
Template:Flagicon Lizerias, Portugal Grand Prix Arko
2000 Template:Flagicon Royal Windsor, Great Britain Grand Prix Jalisco
1999 Template:Flagicon Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead, Great Britain King George V Gold Cup Hopes Are High
1998 Template:Flagicon Madrid, Spain Grand Prix Showtime
Template:Flagicon Gijon, Spain Grand Prix Hopes Are High
Template:Flagicon Dublin, Ireland Grand Prix Hope Are High
Template:Flagicon CSIO Spruce Meadows 'Masters' Tournament, Spruce Meadows, Canada Du Maurier Grand Prix Hopes Are High
Template:Flagicon Leeuwarden, The Netherlands Grand Prix Zalza
1997 Template:Flagicon Lisbon, Portugal Grand Prix Showtime
Template:Flagicon Horse of the Year Show, Great Britain Grand Prix Showtime
1996 Template:Flagicon Bordeaux, France World Cup Qualifier Dollar Girl
Template:Flagicon Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead, Great Britain King George V Gold Cup Cathleen III
Template:Flagicon Moorsele, Italy Grand Prix Dollar Girl
Template:Flagicon Madrid, Spain Grand Prix Showtime
Template:Flagicon Gijon, Spain Grand Prix Dollar Girl
Template:Flagicon Olympia, Great Britain Masters Zalza
1995 Template:Flagicon Gothenburg, Sweden World Cup Final Dollar Girl
Template:Flagicon Barcelona, Spain Grand Prix Showtime
Template:Flagicon San Marino, Italy Grand Prix Showtime
Template:Flagicon Horse of the Year Show, Great Britain Grand Prix Showtime
Template:Flagicon Aarhus, Denmark Masters Dollar Girl
Template:Flagicon Stuttgart, Germany Grand Prix Dollar Girl
1994 Template:Flagicon Millstreet, Ireland World Cup Qualifier Dollar Girl
1993 Template:Flagicon Paris, France Grand Prix Major Wager
Template:Flagicon Paris, France World Cup Qualifier Major Wager
Template:Flagicon Gothenburg, Sweden Grand Prix Major Wager
Template:Flagicon Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead, Great Britain King George V Gold Cup Limited Edition
Template:Flagicon St Gallen, Switzerland Grand Prix Dollar Girl
Template:Flagicon Horse of the Year Show, Great Britain Everest Final Showtime
Template:Flagicon Ascona, Switzerland Grand Prix Dollar Girl
Template:Flagicon CSIO Spruce Meadows 'Masters' Tournament, Spruce Meadows, Canada Du Maurier Grand Prix Dollar Girl
1992 Template:Flagicon Genk, Belgium Grand Prix Major Wager
Template:Flagicon Gothenburg, Sweden Grand Prix Major Wager
Template:Flagicon Amsterdam, The Netherlands Masters Limited Edition
1991 Template:Flagicon Horse of the Year Show, Great Britain Leading Showjumper of the Year Phoenix Park
Template:Flagicon Horse of the Year Show, Great Britain Masters Phoenix Park
Template:Flagicon Dublin, Ireland Grand Prix Phoenix Park
1990 Template:Flagicon Kossen, Austria Grand Prix Fiorella
Template:Flagicon Cortina, Italy Grand Prix Fiorella
Template:Flagicon Dublin, Ireland Grand Prix Phoenix Park
Template:Flagicon Dortmund, Germany Grand Prix Top Gun
Template:Flagicon Horse of the Year Show, Great Britain Grand Prix Grand Slam
1989 Template:Flagicon Hickstead, Great Britain Hickstead Derby Apollo
1988 Template:Flagicon Hickstead, Great Britain Hickstead Derby Apollo
Template:Flagicon Dublin, Ireland Grand Prix Apollo
Template:Flagicon Aachen, Germany Grand Prix Apollo
1987 Template:Flagicon Hickstead, Great Britain Hickstead Derby J Nick
Template:Flagicon Aachen, Germany Grand Prix Apollo
1985 Template:Flagicon Antwerp, Belgium World Cup Qualifier St James
Template:Flagicon CSIO Spruce Meadows 'Masters' Tournament, Spruce Meadows, Canada Du Maurier Grand Prix St James
Template:Flagicon Dublin, Ireland Grand Prix Apollo
Template:Flagicon Toronto, Canada World Cup Qualifier Apollo
Template:Flagicon New York City, USA World Cup Qualifier Apollo
1984 Template:Flagicon Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead, Great Britain King George V Gold Cup St James
1983 Template:Flagicon Toronto, Canada World Cup Qualifier St James
Template:Flagicon Olympia, Great Britain World Cup Qualifier St James
Template:Flagicon Aachen, Germany Grand Prix If Ever
1979 Template:Flagicon Geneva, Switzerland World Cup Qualifier Lastic
1978 Template:Flagicon Horse of the Year Show, Great Britain Leading Showjumper of the Year Maybe

Nation's Cup wins

Year Location Horse
2011 Template:Flagicon Dublin, Ireland Carlo 273
2008 Template:Flagicon Dublin, Ireland Arko III
2005 Template:Flagicon Dublin, Ireland Arko III
2005 Template:Flagicon Rome, Italy Arko III
2004 Template:Flagicon Hickstead, Great Britain Russell
2003 Template:Flagicon Hickstead, Great Britain Arko III
1997 Template:Flagicon Modena, Italy Showtime
1997 Template:Flagicon Royal Windsor, Great Britain Showtime
1997 Template:Flagicon Gijon, Spain Tinka's Boy
1996 Template:Flagicon Lisbon, Portugal Cathleen III
1996 Template:Flagicon Dublin, Ireland Dollar Girl
1996 Template:Flagicon Calgary, Canada Showtime
1993 Template:Flagicon Hickstead, Great Britain Limited Edition
1992 Template:Flagicon Hickstead, Great Britain Limited Edition
1992 Template:Flagicon Calgary, Canada Dollar Girl
1991 Template:Flagicon Calgary, Canada Phoenix Park
1991 Template:Flagicon Dublin, Ireland Phoenix Park
1991 Template:Flagicon Rome, Italy Apollo II
1991 Template:Flagicon Luxembourg, Luxembourg Phoenix Park
1990 Template:Flagicon Rome, Italy Grand Slam
1990 Template:Flagicon Calgary, Canada Grand Slam
1990 Template:Flagicon Dublin, Ireland Phoenix Park
1990 Template:Flagicon New York City, USA Grand Slam
1989 Template:Flagicon Luxembourg, Luxembourg Serenade
1989 Template:Flagicon Dublin, Ireland Grand Slam
1989 Template:Flagicon Calgary, Canada Grand Slam
1989 Template:Flagicon St Gallen, Switzerland Apollo
1988 Template:Flagicon Dublin, Ireland Apollo
1988 Template:Flagicon Rome, Italy Apollo
1987 Template:Flagicon Gijon, Spain Airbourne
1986 Template:Flagicon Jerez, Spain Apollo
1986 Template:Flagicon Dublin, Ireland Apollo
1986 Template:Flagicon Toronto, Canada Apollo
1986 Template:Flagicon Washington, USA Apollo
1986 Template:Flagicon Rotterdam, The Netherlands Airbourne
1985 Template:Flagicon Dublin, Ireland Apollo
1985 Template:Flagicon Hickstead, Great Britain Apollo
1985 Template:Flagicon Calgary, Canada Apollo
1984 Template:Flagicon Paris, France St James
1984 Template:Flagicon Liege, Belgium Apollo
1983 Template:Flagicon Paris, France St James
1982 Template:Flagicon Lucerne, Switzerland If Ever
1981 Template:Flagicon Aachen, Germany Maybe
1979 Template:Flagicon Zuidlaren, The Netherlands Maybe

International Championship Results

Results
Year Event Horse Placing Notes
1975 European Junior Championships Everest OK Script error: No such module "sort". Team
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1979 World Cup Final Lastic 7th
1980 World Championships Maybe Script error: No such module "sort". Team
25th Individual
1981 World Cup Final Maybe / If Ever 14th
1982 World Cup Final Everest Carat 8th
1982 World Championships If Ever Script error: No such module "sort". Team
48th Individual
1983 World Cup Final If Ever 16th
1984 World Cup Final St. James 7th
1985 World Cup Final St. James Script error: No such module "sort".
1985 European Championships St. James Script error: No such module "sort". Team
4th Individual
1986 World Cup Final St. James 28th
1986 World Championships Apollo Script error: No such module "sort". Team
Script error: No such module "sort". Individual
1987 World Cup Final 12th
1987 European Championships Apollo Script error: No such module "sort". Team
Script error: No such module "sort". Individual
1988 World Cup Final J. Nick 26th
1988 Olympic Games Apollo 6th Team
7th Individual
1989 European Championships Apollo Script error: No such module "sort". Team
18th Individual
1990 World Cup Final Grand Slam 6th
1990 World Equestrian Games Grand Slam Script error: No such module "sort". Team
20th Individual
1991 World Cup Final Grand Slam 41st
1991 European Championships Phoenix Park Script error: No such module "sort". Team
17th Individual
1992 Olympic Games Dollar Girl 7th Team
70th Individual
1993 World Cup Final Major Wager 28th
1993 European Championships Dollar Girl Script error: No such module "sort". Team
16th Individual
1994 World Equestrian Games Dollar Girl 6th Team
22nd Individual
1995 World Cup Final Dollar Girl Script error: No such module "sort".
1996 World Cup Final Dollar Girl Script error: No such module "sort".
1996 Olympic Games Show Time 11th Team
23rd Individual
1997 World Cup Final Show Time 12th
1998 World Equestrian Games Hopes Are High Script error: No such module "sort". Team
27th Individual
1999 European Championships Hopes Are High 4th Team
24th Individual
2003 European Championships Arko III 9th Team
26th Individual
2004 Olympic Games Arko III 10th Individual
2005 World Cup Final Arko III 22nd
2005 European Championships Arko III 25th Individual
2006 World Equestrian Games Russel 9th Team
30th Individual
2008 Olympic Games Russel 5th Team
28th Individual
2011 European Championships Carlo 273 Script error: No such module "sort". Team
Script error: No such module "sort". Individual
2012 Olympic Games Big Star Script error: No such module "sort". Team
5th Individual
2016 Olympic Games Big Star 12th Team
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Personal life

Skelton has two sons with his first wife Sarah Skelton (née Edwards) and both are active in horse racing. 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 MarketScript error: No such module "Unsubst". and in 2020 won the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.[9]

He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2012 Birthday Honours for services to equestrian sport.[10][11]

In 2001, Skelton published an autobiography, Only Falls And Horses[12] and wrote a second, Gold, in 2018.

See also

References

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  11. ↑ Nick Skelton awarded OBE Script error: No such module "webarchive"., Victoria Spicer / horseandcountry.tv, 16 June 2012
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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Bibliography

  • Skelton, N. (2001) Only Falls and Horses. Greenwater.

External links

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