Rio de Janeiro: Nick Skelton won gold in the individual show jumping ever at Rio on Friday to become the oldest British gold medallist.
The 58-year-old, who is competing in his seventh Olympics and was once advised to stop riding by a surgeon, went clear on Big Star in 42.82 seconds. It was his first individual medal though he helped Britain to win team gold in 2012.
“Obviously I was first to go and I thought in my mind to go as fast as I could but be safe ... I tried to put a bit of pressure on everyone else. Luck was on my side,” said Skelton.
Sweden’s Peder Fredricson took silver and Canada’s Eric Lamaze thebronze.
Skelton, who is the oldest British gold medallist since 1908, spent much of the past two years nursing Big Star back from an injury and admitted to battling back pain himself.
After a fall in 2000 snapped vertebra in his neck in two places, Skelton’s surgeon advised him to give up riding or risk a fatal injury.
“I’m lucky just to get this horse here,” Skelton said. “This has capped my career. I’ve been in the sport a long, long time. To win this now at my age ... it’s amazing.”
Skelton is the second British equestrian to win gold in Rio, after Charlotte Dujardin won the individual dressage competition on Monday.
