The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Skelton and Big Star are winning combination
Nick Skelton won Great Britain’s first individual showjumping gold medal in Olympic history following a stunning performance in Deodoro.
The 58-year-old, from Alcester in Warwickshire, also became Britain’s second-oldest Olympic gold medallist in any sport, behind shooter Joshua ‘Jerry’ Millner, who won gold in 1908.
Skelton and Big Star – his London 2012 team gold medal-winning ride – were among six combinations that jumped off against the clock after double clear rounds earlier in the day.
Skelton, in his seventh Olympics, set an unbeatable pace of 42.82 seconds despite being first to go.
It means Great Britain’s equestrian team finished their Rio campaign with two gold medals – Skelton and dressage star Charlotte Dujardin – plus a silver for the dressage team.
Skelton beat Sweden’s Peder Fredricson into second place.
Canada’s Eric Lamaze – the 2008 Olympic individual champion – was third.
Skelton and Big Star triumphed by more than half a second.
It represents a career highlight for a rider who fought back from a broken neck suffered in 2000 that forced him to retire before he returned to the saddle in 2002.
He has also suffered a serious back injury and undergone a hip replacement, but he came back to prominence when he helped Britain win team gold alongside Ben Maher, Scott Brash and Peter Charles in London four years ago.
“I would say today he (Big Star) was absolutely amazing,” Skelton said.
“The last competition he won was the Aachen grand prix in 2013 – it has been two years to get him back.
“It has taken a lot of work, but I always knew if we could get him right, then he could do this,” he said.
“We have been very slowly bringing him back. I have nursed him and nursed him, and he has come good for me. This is for him.
“That (jump-off) has been the biggest nerves of the games for me. I didn’t want to look too much, but I had to look at Eric, because I knew he would be quick.
“I am not going to stop now. I only ride Big Star at the moment. When he stops, I will stop. For definite.”