Dressage competitor Carl Hester is pursuing an unprecedented achievement for British Olympic athletes by aiming to compete at an eighth Olympic Games. The 59-year-old’s goal became viable when Great Britain’s dressage team secured qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics following a silver medal performance at the FEI World Championships this week.
Hester’s Olympic journey began in Barcelona in 1992 and has spanned three decades, during which he has accumulated four medals. His achievements include team gold from London 2012, team silver from Rio 2016, and bronze medals from both recent Olympic Games. Currently, he shares the British record for most Olympic appearances with show-jumper Nick Skelton, with each having competed at seven Games.
Speaking about the prospect of competing in Los Angeles, Hester expressed enthusiasm tempered with realistic expectations. He highlighted that owning reliable horses capable of competing at Olympic level has been crucial to his longevity, and he currently has a young nine-year-old horse in training. However, he acknowledged the challenges ahead, noting that only three riders will be selected for the British dressage team and that selection depends on horses remaining sound and fit.
Hester also stressed the importance of continued success for British dressage, as medal achievements directly influence lottery funding available for athlete preparation. With significant competition among British riders vying for Olympic selection, he emphasized that past accomplishments alone do not guarantee future spots on the team.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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