Greatest Olympian

[katmills2005]

What is it about horse jumping that makes you feel it is not a viable Olympic sport? Many years go into training for both the rider and the horse. It is probably one of the most dangerous sports in the Olympics. Do you have to be under the age of 25 to be an Olympic class athlete? Granted that it is a sport that is relatively young (1700's) but there is a lot more that goes into it than just climbing onto a horses back and saying "giddy-up."

[robthehiker]

What is it about horse jumping that makes you feel it is not a viable Olympic sport? Many years go into training for both the rider and the horse. It is probably one of the most dangerous sports in the Olympics. Do you have to be under the age of 25 to be an Olympic class athlete? Granted that it is a sport that is relatively young (1700's) but there is a lot more that goes into it than just climbing onto a horses back and saying "giddy-up."

I'll preface this with "I know very little about horse jumping".

The question I ask myself is "how can a 60+ year old be a top athlete in a sport?". <ducks>

I reserve the right to change my mind about this in, oh, about 15 years.

[robthehiker]

What is it about horse jumping that makes you feel it is not a viable Olympic sport? Many years go into training for both the rider and the horse. It is probably one of the most dangerous sports in the Olympics. Do you have to be under the age of 25 to be an Olympic class athlete? Granted that it is a sport that is relatively young (1700's) but there is a lot more that goes into it than just climbing onto a horses back and saying "giddy-up."

Canadian Eric Lamaze has won a gold medal in individual show jumping at the Beijing Olympics. It is Canada's third gold medal.

[katmills2005]

Yes, Rob. Comments made previously on the thread prompted my post.

I think its absolutely fantastic that someone has the physical capability to compete and win in the Olympics at his age.

[Colin]

What is it about horse jumping that makes you feel it is not a viable Olympic sport? Many years go into training for both the rider and the horse. It is probably one of the most dangerous sports in the Olympics. Do you have to be under the age of 25 to be an Olympic class athlete? Granted that it is a sport that is relatively young (1700's) but there is a lot more that goes into it than just climbing onto a horses back and saying "giddy-up."

Whoa easy there, my intention wasn't to offend. This is only my opinion and we are all entitled to one of those. I've ridden horses and know all to well that it is not an easy task I couldn't imagine trying to train one to jump. I was more concerned with staying on that beast.

In terms of riding events, I am more of the mindset that the horse is doing most of the work. Yes the rider and the trainer put in years and years of work, but in the end isn't it the horse that wins or loses? The articles and suspensions today are not the doping of the riders, but of the doping of the animals. I associate sport with pushing your physical limit to achieve your best not pushing the limit or an animal to achieve your best.

I also don't think you need to be 25 to be a top athlete, but 61 to me is not something you are going to see in many other avenues or sports. Show me a 61 year old tri-athlete (I am sure there are more than one) and I will cheer them on until I am blue in the face.

I just find it interesting that sports like Rugby Union, Cricket, Lacrosse (apparently Canada's official national sport), Polo (on horses) and even Golf are popular enough worldwide to hold major tournaments and draw huge international crowds yet are less fitting into the Olympic games that some of the equestrian events, sailing, or even handball. That's my issue.

So unless we are going to class Ian Miller as the Greatest Olympian of all time (the topic of this thread) maybe we can agree to disagree. Fair enough?