Olympic medal-winning showjumper dies
Double Olympic medal-winning showjumper Hubert Bourdy has died aged 57.
The French rider had been suffering from cancer. He died yesterday (Tuesday 24 June).
Hubert started riding aged 11 and began a career as a professional rider at 23. He was 1st selected for the French showjumping team in 1983 and competed for his country all over the world in the next 2 decades.
In 1988 at the Seoul Olympics Hubert and Morgat were part of the bronze-medal winning French team (pictured top). He was also on the bronze medal-winning team in 1992 in Barcelona, riding Razzia du Poncel.
Hubert and Morgat took individual bronze at the inaugural FEI World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, where he joined his compatriots Eric Navet, Roger-Yves Bost, and Pierre Durand to take the team title.
He retired in 2009 and set up a successful horse dealing business.
“The passing of Hubert is very sad news,” said FEI director of jumping John Roche.
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“He was a real character and a true horseman who has inspired many people. Despite his illness, he was still present at major FEI events, including the Longines FEI World Cup jumping finals in Lyon in April and CSI4* Bourg en Bresse 3 weeks ago. His talent and sense of humour will be sadly missed.”
A minute of silence was held at the Stade d’Ornano today (Wednesday 25 June) at the jumping test event for the World Equestrian Games.
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A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.