Picture by Julian Finney/Getty Images
If you're looking for longevity in an Olympic sport, you might want to pick equestrian.
Eight of the 12 riders announced for the three disciplines of jumping, eventing, and dressage for Team GB at Paris 2024 have competed at 18 Olympic Games between them.
Thirteen of those appearances come from just three athletes – Carl Hester, with six, Ben Maher, four, and Charlotte Dujardin, three.
But it's not just the numerous appearances; success has come, too in the only Olympic sport that pits women and men against each other. Athletes also take part in both individual and team competitions.
Dujardin has claimed six Olympic medals in dressage, including three gold. Just one more of any colour and she'll overtake former track cyclist, Laura Kenny, to become GB's most decorated female Olympian.
The 38-year-old will want to reclaim her individual title, which she won at both London 2012 and Rio 2016, securing bronze at Tokyo 2020, and she'll have a new fan cheering her on, daughter Isabella, born in May 2023.
Hester has a medal of each colour, all in team dressage, while Maher has seen nothing but gold so far in jumping, finishing on the top step of the podium in the team event at London 2012, and is the reigning Olympic champion individually.
Joining Dujardin, on horse Imhotep, and Hester (Fame), in dressage is reigning world individual champion, Lottie Fry (Glamourdale) who will be competing at her second Olympic Games. Becky Moody (Jagerbomb) is the travelling reserve.
The trio will be looking to match or better their bronze medal from the team event in Japan.
At @Paris2024, Carl Hester will become the second British athlete to compete at SEVEN Olympic Games.
— Team GB (@TeamGB) June 27, 2024
He made his debut at Barcelona 1992 🤯@BritEquestrian #Paris2024
Maher, 41, on Point Break, will be joined by fellow Tokyo Olympians Scott Brash (Hello Jefferson), and Harry Charles (Romeo 88), with Joe Stockdale (Cacharel) looking to make his Olympic debut 16 years after his father Tim competed in jumping at Beijing 2008.
The reserve riders for jumping and eventing, out of the four athletes selected, have yet to be decided.
The eventing athletes will be looking to defend their team title from Tokyo 2020, the first secured by the Brits since 1972, with two of the side who claimed gold, Laura Collett (London 52) and Tom McEwen (JL Dublin), back in the squad.
Collett's amazing comeback from a riding accident in 2013 in which she had to be resuscitated five times continues, while world champion Yasmin Ingham (Banzai du Loir), who hails from the Isle of Man, population 84,000, makes the Olympic trip alongside Ros Canter who was the travelling reserve last time out.
The third part of the trio that won gold, Oliver Townend, misses out this time around after he had to withdraw his horse, Ballaghmor Class, from consideration for Paris 2024 due to injury.
The Olympic Games also continues without a member of the famed Whitakers who, prior to Tokyo 2020, had a family member compete at six Olympic Games but the next generation in Jack Whitaker is already eyeing LA 2028.
Dressage: Charlotte Dujardin (Imhotep), Lottie Fry (Glamourdale), Carl Hester (Fame), Becky Moody (Jagerbomb)
Jumping: Scott Brash (Hello Jefferson), Harry Charles (Romeo 88), Ben Maher (Point Break), Joe Stockdale (Cacharel)
Eventing: Ros Canter (Lordships Graffalo), Laura Collett (London 52), Yasmin Ingham (Banzai du Loir), Tom McEwen (JL Dublin)
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