Kevin Babington

Last updated

Kevin Babington
Personal information
NationalityIrish
Born (1968-08-24) 24 August 1968 (age 54)
Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland
Sport
Sport Equestrian

Kevin Babington (born 24 August 1968) is an Irish equestrian. [1] He competed in two events at the 2004 Summer Olympics. [2] In 2019, Babington was paralyzed from the neck down following a fall at the Hampton Classic Horse Show. [3] [4]

Contents

Biography

Babington was born in 1968 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, [1] the youngest of eleven children. [3] [5] He attended a riding school in Kill, County Kildare when he was 17, undertaking his riding instructor exams with the British Horse Society. [1] The following year, he moved to the United States to become a professional show jumper. [1] [3]

After working as an instructor at a summer camp, [5] he moved to New Jersey, setting up his own business. [1] In 2001, he was part of the Irish team that won gold at the European Championships, [1] before finishing in eighth place at the FEI World Equestrian Games a year later. [1] [6] At the 2000 FEI Nations Cup, he was part of Ireland's team that won gold, [4] the first for Ireland at the Nations Cup in more than sixty years. [1]

At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Babington competed in the individual jumping and team jumping events, [7] with a best finish of joint-fourth in the individual event. [8] Originally, Babington had finished in fifth place, but the horse rode by the original gold medal winner, Cian O'Connor, was disqualified for doping. [9]

In August 2019, Babington was riding at the Hampton Classic Horse Show in Bridgehampton, New York, where he fell from his horse. [1] [10] As a result from the fall, he was paralyzed from the neck down. [1] [11] Despite his injury, Babington continued to work as a horse trainer. [1] In February 2021, Babington was awarded with a lifetime achievement award by the American magazine Robb Report's Horsepower Gala. [12]

Related Research Articles

Cian O'Connor is an Irish equestrian who competes in show jumping. He has competed at three Olympic Games, four World Championships and six European Championships, and has attained 133 senior caps for his country. He won an individual bronze medal at the London Olympic Games 2012 and was a member of the Irish team that took a gold medal at the European Championships in Gothenburg in 2017. O’Connor also won a bronze individual medal at the latter event. At the Tokyo Summer Olympics, Cian and his Irish-bred mount Susan Magnier’s Irish bred Kilkenny finished seventh in the individual class.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Equestrian at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Individual jumping</span> Equestrian at the Olympics

The individual show jumping event, part of the equestrian program at the 2004 Summer Olympics, was held from 22 to 27 August 2004 in the Olympic Equestrian Centre on the outskirts of Markopoulo in the Attica region of Greece. Like all other equestrian events, the jumping competition was mixed gender, with both male and female athletes competing in the same division. There were 77 competitors from 27 nations. Each nation could send up to 4 riders. Cian O'Connor of Ireland initially received the gold medal, but that medal was stripped from him due to doping. After his disqualification, the event was won by Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil, the nation's first medal in individual jumping. Silver went to Chris Kappler of the United States, with bronze to Marco Kutscher of Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anky van Grunsven</span> Dutch equestrian

Theodora Elisabeth Gerarda "Anky" van Grunsven is a Dutch dressage champion who is the only rider to record three successive Olympic wins in the same event. Along with her Olympic successes, she has won numerous medals at the World Equestrian Games (WEG), and is the only rider to have competed at every WEG since they began in 1990. Between 1990 and 2006, she competed at the Games in dressage, but in 2010 she was named as part of the Dutch reining team, marking a major change in discipline.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Davidson (equestrian)</span> American equestrian

Bruce Oram Davidson is an American equestrian who competes in the sport of eventing. He grew up in a family uninterested in horses, but began to compete in Pony Club events after a family friend introduced him to riding. He began college at Iowa State University, but left in his third year to train full-time with the United States Equestrian Team. In 1974, he married, and his two children were born in 1976 and 1977. His son, Bruce Davidson Jr., has followed in his footsteps to become a top eventing rider.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rodrigo Pessoa</span> Brazilian equestrian

Rodrigo de Paula Pessoa, known as Rodrigo Pessoa, is a Brazilian equestrian and show jumper. An Olympic gold-medalist in individual jumping, he is an accomplished rider backed with over 70 Grand Prix wins. He has represented Brazil at seven Olympic Games. In 2017, Horse Sport Ireland announced Pessoa as the new Irish showjumping team manager. As chief for Team Ireland, they won the 2017 European title in Gothenburg, and in 2019 got Ireland qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics by winning the FEI Nation's Cup final. At the end of 2019, he ended his cooperation with Horse Sport Ireland to dedicate time to his family and riding career. He rides for James H. Clark and Artemis Farms in Wellington and Greenwich.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phillip Dutton</span> Australian equestrian

Phillip Peter Dutton, OAM is an Australian-born Olympic-level equestrian rider competing in eventing for the United States of America. He is a dual Olympic gold medalist who formerly competed for his country of birth but now competes for the USA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerco Schröder</span> Dutch equestrian

Gerco Bernardus Schröder is a Dutch show jumping equestrian. He currently ranks third on the FEI Rolex Ranking List.

Joseph "Joe" Halpin Fargis IV is an American showjumper and Olympic champion. Fargis won showjumping individual gold and team gold at the 1984 Summer Olympics. He won showjumping team silver at the 1988 Summer Olympics. He is the owner of Sandron Farm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beezie Madden</span> American equestrian

Elizabeth Madden is an American Olympic champion equestrian competing in show jumping. She has two Olympic golds and one silver in team jumping, and an individual bronze. She won the FEI Show Jumping World Cup twice; won two silvers and two bronzes at World Championships; and won two golds, one silver and two bronzes at the Pan American Games. She was the first American to break into the international top three show jumping ranking, and the first woman to win over one million dollars in show jumping prize money.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McLain Ward</span> American equestrian

McLain Ward is an American show jumping competitor and four-time Olympic medalist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Lamaze</span> Canadian equestrian (b. 1968)

Eric Lamaze is a Canadian retired showjumper and Olympic champion. He won individual gold and team silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, riding his famed horse Hickstead. Lamaze has won three Olympic medals, as well as four Pan American Games medals and one World Equestrian Games bronze. He is considered one of Canada's best showjumpers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Guerdat</span> Swiss equestrian

Steve Guerdat is a Swiss equestrian who competes in the sport of show jumping.

Colonel John William Russell was an American equestrian who won a bronze medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. After serving in the United States Army during World War II, he began competing in international equestrian tournaments and was eventually selected to join the United States team at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. After his success at the 1952 edition, he continued to participate in events around the world, but military duties and a broken bone in his horse caused him to miss the 1956 Summer Olympics. He retired from active competition that year and became the head of United States Modern Pentathlon Training Center, where he coached six United States Olympic modern pentathlon delegations, twenty-two World Championship teams, and helped organize two World Modern Pentathlon Championships. He retired and opened the Russell Equestrian Center and was inducted into the United States Show Jumping Hall of Fame in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Equestrian at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Individual jumping</span> Equestrian at the Olympics

The individual jumping in equestrian at the 2012 Olympic Games in London was held at Greenwich Park from 4 to 8 August. Like all other equestrian events, the jumping competition was mixed gender, with both male and female athletes competing in the same division. There were 75 competitors from 26 nations. The event was won by Steve Guerdat of Switzerland, the nation's first victory in individual jumping since 1924 and second overall. Gerco Schroder of the Netherlands took silver. Cian O'Connor of Ireland, who had been stripped of a gold medal in the event in 2004, earned bronze—Ireland's first medal in the event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl Hester</span> British dressage rider

Carl Hester is a British dressage rider competing at Olympic level. As of 8 August 2012, the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) rank him 12th in the world riding Uthopia. In 2012, Hester formed part of the Great Britain Dressage team that won gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Staut</span> French equestrian

Kevin Staut is a French equestrian. His specialty is show jumping, either individually or as part of a team. He has received medals at the Show Jumping French Junior Championships, the Show Jumping European Championship for Young Riders, the Show Jumping European Championships, and the Show Jumping World Championships. He placed 34th at the 2012 Summer Olympics and is currently ranked sixth on the FEI Rolex Ranking List.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Bluman</span> Colombian equestrian

Daniel Bluman is a Colombian-born Israeli Olympic show jumping rider. In July 2019 Bluman, as part of Israel's four-rider squad, qualified to represent Israel at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Mary Jane "M.J." Tumbridge is a Bermudian equestrian. She competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics and the 2000 Summer Olympics. She was the first sportsperson from Bermuda to win a gold medal at the Pan Am Games, and is considered to be the best equestrian from the country.

Richard Rankin Fellers is an American Olympic equestrian and horse trainer. In 2021, the United States Center for SafeSport ruled Fellers ineligible to participate in the sport, due to charges brought against him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caroline Chew (equestrian)</span> Singaporean equestrian

Caroline Rosanna Pei Jia Chew is a Singaporean equestrian athlete and solicitor. She competed at the 2018 World Equestrian Games and the 2014 Asian Games in dressage, and at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in show jumping. She won several medals during the Southeast Asian Games, and competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Kevin Babington". Olympedia. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  2. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Kevin Babington Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 4 December 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 "About The Kevin Babington Foundation". Kevin Babington Foundation. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Kevin Babington: Learning to live again after life changed forever on Long Island". The Irish Times. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  5. 1 2 "Paralyzed top Irish equestrian sees hope in new spinal treatment". Irish Central. 13 January 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  6. "Paralysed showjumper Kevin Babington steps up rehab". Horse Talk. 4 October 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  7. "Team, Open". Olympedia. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  8. "Individual, Open". Olympedia. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  9. "Cian O'Connor". Olympedia. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  10. "Babington Strong". Practical Horseman. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  11. Macur, Juliet (January 2021). "A Top Equestrian Paralyzed in an Accident Sees Hope in a Coming Treatment". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  12. "Lifetime achievement award for Olympic rider with life-changing injuries". Horse and Hound. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2022.