Will Simpson | |||||||||||||||
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![]() Beezie Madden on Authentic and Will Simpson on Carlsson vom Dach | |||||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||||
Born | June 9, 1959 65) Springfield, Illinois, U.S | (age||||||||||||||
Medal record
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William "Will" Simpson (born June 9, 1959, in Springfield, Illinois) is an American show jumping competitor and Olympic champion. [1]
At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Simpson won the gold medal as part of the United States team in team jumping, together with McLain Ward, Laura Kraut, and Beezie Madden. [2]
In 2010 Simpson was featured in the television series A Rider's Story [3] along with his wife, fellow Grand Prix show jumper Nicole Shahinian-Simpson.
Simpson grew up in Peoria, Illinois. He was one of six children, and his mother signed him up for riding lessons alongside his sister. [4] He began riding when he was 11 years old at the Sangamon Pony Club. His first horse was Glenda Jo, a Thoroughbred mare. His mentors were George Morris, Rodney Jenkins and Bernie Traurig. [5]
Simpson worked for Rodney Jenkins before setting out on his own in California. His business is based around riding, training and selling horses. [4]
Simpson was the 2008 Olympics Show Jumping Team Gold Medalist, riding Carllson Vom Dach. Over his career, he has been a five-time World Cup finalist, the winner of over 75 Grand Prixs, and held the World Wall Record for ten years. He currently holds the North American High Jump Record. [5]
Simpson is divorced and has two children, Sophie and Ty. He plays tennis, skis, and cooks. [4]
John Whitaker MBE 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 the managing director of John Whitaker International Limited which produces tack and equestrian clothing.
Anne Kindig Kursinski is an American showjumper and two-time Olympic silver medalist in team jumping, at Seoul 1988 and Atlanta 1996. Representing the United States, she was a member of five Olympic teams, forty-seven Nations Cup teams, and three World Equestrian Games teams. In 2017, she was inducted into the Showjumping Hall of Fame.
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Chris Kappler is an American show jumper and horse trainer. He is an Olympic gold and silver medalist, and the winner of over 100 Grand Prixs. He is a founder of the North American Riders Group.
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Guy Thomas is a New Zealand equestrian. His speciality is show jumping, either individually or as part of a team.
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Daniel Bluman is an Olympic show jumping rider. Born in Colombia, he represents Israel internationally and competed for his country of birth in the past. Bluman qualified to represent Israel at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, but did not compete due to a clerical error in his horse's registration. Bluman represented Israel at the 2024 Paris Olympics at the Palace of Versailles in individual jumping and team jumping.
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