Nick Skelton’s illustrious competition record speaks for itself — two Olympic gold medals, three Hickstead Derby wins and nearly 200 team appearances are just the tip of an immense iceberg.
He has spearheaded the sport of showjumping for well over 40 years and a massive void now remains where this hugely talented horseman once stood. So what made Nick brilliant? What gave him that winning edge? His friends, family and fellow riders share their thoughts — and reveal why Nick’s greatest legacy may be to have inspired so many people along the way.
Nick Skelton and Big Star soaring to Olympic gold in Rio 2016 — the first British showjumper to win the individual title
Nick Skelton GBR riding Big Star winner of the Gold medal as Individual Champion in the Show Jumping Competition at the Olympic Equestrian Centre in Deodoro near Rio, Brazil on 19th August 2016
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Riding Airbourne to land the Lincolnshire Area Trial in 1986
winning the 1986 lincolnshire area trial on raffles airborne
nick skelton archive image - used for gallery in issue 3rd april 2014 for pic refs
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Nick won the Hickstead Derby three times in a row — twice on the mighty Apollo
Nick Skelton of Great Britain riding his horse Apollo during the Silk Cut Derby at Hickstead, circa July 1988. (Photo by Bob Thomas/Getty Images)
(Image credit: Bob Thomas/Getty Images)
Flying into the bronze medal position at the 2011 European Championships in Madrid riding Carlo 273
Euro. Showjumping Champs. Madrid 15. 09. 11 Nick Skelton on Carlo
(Image credit: TREVOR MEEKS)
Breaking the British high jump record at Olympia in 1978 riding Lastic
Nick Skelton and Lastic winning the high jump at Olympia in 1978. Setting the record at 2.32m
(Image credit: Clive Hills)
Topping the podium at the London Olympics in 2012 alongside Ben Maher, Scott Brash and Peter Charles
Olympics Show jumping 06 08 2012 NICK SKELTON BEN MAHER SCOTT BRASH PETER CHARLES PODIUM CELEBRATE GOLD NATIONAL ANTHEM
(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)
Winning the first of four grands prix at Spruce Meadows, Canada, in 1985 on St James
nick winning wioth st james at spruce meadows
nick skelton archive image - used for gallery in issue 3rd april 2014 for pic refs
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Nick represented his country nearly 200 times
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Riding Dollar Girl — one of Nick’s all-time favourites — at Olympia in 1995
nick skelton archive image - used for gallery in issue 3rd april 2014 for pic refs
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Arko III — the horse that brought him out of retirement after his ‘hangman’s break’ in 2000
08.08.08 . The Samsung Super League Show Jumping Competition . Nick Skelton and Arko III .
(Image credit: David Miller)
Another sensational victory — this time on Major Wager in Sweden in 1993
winning the 1993 gothenburg grand prix on major wager
nick skelton archive image - used for gallery in issue 3rd april 2014 for pic refs
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
In 1980 on Maybe, his alternative Olympics silver medallist
nick skelton archive image - used for gallery in issue 3rd april 2014 for pic refs
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Nick with Eric Lamaze, Canada’s Olympic bronze medallist in Rio
GK88P3 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 19th August, 2016. Nick Skelton GBR, Gold Medal Winner in the Olympic Equestrian Show Jumping event hugs Eric Lamaze of Canada, the Bronze Medal Winner in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Credit: PictureScotland/Alamy Live News
(Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)
At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing riding Russel
(Image credit: Bob Langrish)
You can read the full story with an exclusive interview and a poignant trip down memory lane in Horse & Hound’s special Nick Skelton souvenir tribute issue, out today (18 May 2017)
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Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.
