John Whitaker (equestrian)
![]() Whitaker receiving a trophy in 2014 | ||
Medal record | ||
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Equestrian | ||
Representing ![]() | ||
Alternative Olympics | ||
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1980 Rotterdam | Jumping Individual |
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1980 Rotterdam | Jumping Team |
Olympic Games | ||
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1984 Los Angeles | Team jumping |
World Championships | ||
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1986 Aachen | Jumping Team |
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1990 Stockholm | Jumping Individual |
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1982 Dublin | Jumping Team |
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1990 Stockholm | Jumping Team |
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1998 Rome | Jumping Team |
European Championships | ||
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1985 Dinard | Jumping Team |
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1987 St Gallen | Jumping Team |
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1989 Rotterdam | Jumping Individual |
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1989 Rotterdam | Jumping Team |
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1983 Hickstead | Jumping Individual |
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1983 Hickstead | Jumping Team |
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1987 St Gallen | Jumping Individual |
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1991 La Baule | Jumping Team |
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1993 Gijon | Jumping Team |
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1995 St Gallen | Jumping Team |
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1985 Dinard | Jumping Individual |
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1997 Mannheim | Jumping Team |
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2007 Mannheim | Jumping Team |
John Whitaker MBE (born 5 August 1955, Huddersfield)[1] is a British equestrian and Olympian who competes in show jumping. He has won numerous international medals including an olympic silver medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles.
He is also the managing director of John Whitaker International Limited which produces tack and equestrian clothing[2].
Showjumping
Whitaker has enjoyed success across four decades. He has competed at World and European Championships and five olympic teams between 1984 and 2016[3].
He has won the Hickstead Derby four times[4].
Horses
He is best known for his partnership with the horse Milton with whom he won the Du Maunier Grand Prix at Spruce Meadows and won over £1 million in prize money before being retired in 1994[4].
However he won his olympic medal in 1984 on Ryan's Son who he was given at the age of 18 and had a partnership with for 14 years[4].
Personal life
The Whitaker family is well known for its showjumping prowess[4]. John is married to Clare Barr and has three children – Joanne, Louise and Robert. Robert Whitaker has successfully show jumped at the highest levels. John's niece Ellen Whitaker, nephew William Whitaker and younger brother Michael Whitaker are also show jumpers.
John began riding at the age of 6, taught by his mother, who ran a riding school. As children, John and his brother Michael delivered milk using a horse and cart until they were 16 and began to show jump professionally[4].
References
- ^ "John Whitaker MBE" (PDF). British Showjumping. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ "About John Whitaker International and JWI Staff | johnwhitakerintltd.com". johnwhitaker.com. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
- ^ "John Whitaker – Equestrian Showjumping – News, Olympic Results and History". www.teamgb.com. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
- ^ a b c d e Horse & Hound (16 April 2009). "John Whitaker, legendary British show jumper". Horse & Hound. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Use dmy dates from September 2012
- 1955 births
- Living people
- Members of the Order of the British Empire
- British male equestrians
- Olympic equestrians of Great Britain
- Olympic silver medallists for Great Britain
- Equestrians at the 1984 Summer Olympics
- Equestrians at the 1992 Summer Olympics
- Equestrians at the 1996 Summer Olympics
- Equestrians at the 2000 Summer Olympics
- Equestrians at the 2008 Summer Olympics
- Equestrians at the 2016 Summer Olympics
- British show jumping riders
- Sportspeople from Huddersfield
- Olympic medalists in equestrian
- Medalists at the 1984 Summer Olympics