Nicolas Touzaint is a French event rider who has been European champion twice and won an Olympic team gold medal.
Nicolas was born on 10 May 1980. He is from a family steeped in equestrianism.
His father Jean-Yves Touzaint and uncle Thierry Touzaint both represented France at the 1976 Olympics and were team gold medallists at the alternative Olympics – put on because most riders boycotted the Olympics in Moscow – in 1980 in Fontainebleau. Thierry is now the French eventing national coach and team manager.
Nicolas Touzaint and Absolut Gold at the 2021 Olympics. Credit: Peter Nixon
Nicolas is a multi-medalled championship rider, with his CV featuring:
Yes. Nicolas is the only French rider to have won Badminton Horse Trials, something he achieved in 2008 riding Hildago De L’lle.
Nicolas Touzaint and Hildago De L’Ile win Badminton 2008. Credit: Phil Mingo
He was also the winner of the first five-star held at Pau Horse Trials on the same horse, in 2017.
Nicolas first stepped into the limelight with the great grey Galan De Sauvagère, with whom he won the European titles at Punchestown, Ireland in 2003 and Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy in 2007. He also took the World Cup Final in Malmö, Sweden in 2006 on him.
The pair also contributed to France’s team gold at the Athens Olympics in 2004, finishing eighth individually. They were among the favourites for the 2008 Olympics, for which the equestrian events were held in Hong Kong, but the rider had to withdraw just before his dressage as Galan had damaged his stifle in a fall in his stable during a thunderstorm.
Hildago De L’Ile won two five-stars for Nicolas, including Badminton 2008, and was his partner at the 2012 Olympics, the 2006 World Equestrian Games and the 2005 Europeans, where France won team silver although Nicolas and Hildago were the discard score.
More recently, Absolut Gold HDC has been Nicolas’s championship partner, winning team bronze at the 2021 Olympics and 2023 Europeans, with top-six finishes individually on both occasions.
In all, Nicolas has ridden eight horses at senior championship level, starting with Cobra D’Or, who was his partner at the 1999 young rider European Championships and then on his Olympic debut in Sydney a year later.
He will take that tally to nine when he starts at the Paris Olympics on Diabolo Menthe.
Check out all the Pau Horse Trials winners since the French event became a five-star in 2007 – which were a flash in the pan and which were genuine stars?
The young event horse championships at Le Lion d’Angers have highlighted some stars of the future. We meet nine Le Lion winners who’ve gone on to fame
H&H's eventing editor blogs about the only other rider who has been as dominant at championships as Michael Jung — and who she wants to win today
Former double European champion Nicolas Touzaint will spearhead the French eventing team at the London Olympics this summer
France’s European champion will ride in the new format eventing competition in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium in November
The French team has suffered another blow with injury ruling out Nicolas Touzaint and Galan De Sauvagere
European champion Nicolas Touzaint became the first Frenchman to win at Badminton Horse Trials this afternoon
H&H eventing editor Pippa Roome blogs on first-timers' Badminton Horse Trials experience — and whether Nicolas Touzaint can claim the title
Nicolas Touzaint is in top spot at Badminton Horse Trials after many of the riders had problems on the influential cross-country course
Home side hero Nicolas Touzaint secured the top spot in the new four-star at Pau this afternoon, with British riders second and third
Local hero Nicolas Touzaint leads the four-star at Pau after the cross-country, while there are two British riders in the top four
See how Lucinda Green got on riding Nicolas Touzaint's Galan De Sauvag
The British team continue their unbeaten run at the European championships, with Mary King picking up an individual silver medal
Fantastic British performances across country see them lead the team competition in Pratoni, with Zara Phillips in second individually
Zara Phillips is the highest-placed British rider in third place while German individual Bettina Hoy leads the competition
France
Nicolas Touzaint keeps up his good form to take the title for the home side, while Louisa Lockwood is best of the British
