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Michael Whitaker
Legendary British Showjumper who has won 2 silver and 1 bronze Olympic medal for team jumping and team Gold at 4 European Championships
Age: 54
Lives: Whatton, Nottingham
Michael was raised on his parents’ farm in Yorkshire with his brothers, John, Ian and Steven. They were taught to ride from an early age by their mother who was a keen horsewoman.
At just 20 years of age, Michael became the youngest ever winner of the Hickstead Derby – an accomplishment that remains unbeaten to this day. In 1999, Michael was the highest placed British rider in the World Cup Final in 5th position. He then bettered his own record by coming 3rd in 2001. His many achievements include 5 x Olympic team selections, 4 x Hickstead Derby wins, 4 x King George V cup wins, 3 x European Team Gold Medal 1 x Individual Silver and over 100 Nations Cup appearances.
At the 2008 British Open Show Jumping Championships he was part of the Whitaker trio who took first, second and third at the Championships, just being pipped to the post by his nephew Robert. In the same year Michael was selected for team GB to compete in the Beijing Olympics, however, disappointingly Portofino had to be withdrawn from the event after she sustained an injury after arriving in Hong Kong.