Sport Specific Information |
| Why this sport? |
She was inspired to take up the sport by Princess Anne's performance while representing Great Britain at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. |
General Interest |
| Awards and honours |
She has been named US Female Equestrian Athlete of the Year on 10 occasions. (oconnorequestrian.us, 24 Jan 2015) |
Sport Specific Information |
| When and where did you begin this sport? |
She began riding at age 11. |
Further Personal Information |
| Languages |
English, Spanish |
General Interest |
| Hero / Idol |
Her husband David O'Connor. (useventing.com, 09 Apr 2007) |
International Debut |
| Year |
1979 |
| Competing for |
United States |
Further Personal Information |
| Occupation |
Coach |
General Interest |
| Sporting philosophy / motto |
"Be nice to the people on the way up, because you will always see them again on the way down." (useventing.com, 09 Apr 2007) |
| Famous relatives |
Her husband David won gold in the individual eventing competition at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. (SportsDeskOnline, 29 Jan 2015; oconnorequestrian.us, 24 Jan 2015) |
| Injuries |
She fractured two vertebrae in her back after falling during the 2012 Morven Park Horse Trials in the United States of America. She had two permanent titanium rods inserted into her spine and had to wear a brace for four months. (practicalhorsemanmag.com, 05 May 2015; horsejunkiesunited.com, 13 Feb 2013)
In September 2009 she broke her shoulder blade in a motorcycle accident. She was out of action for five weeks. (oconnorequestrian.us, 24 Jan 2015) |
Last Update |
| |
18 Mar 2016 |
General Interest |
| Other information |
RETIREMENT
She was forced to retire from elite eventing competitions after fracturing two vertebrae in her back in 2012. "At my three-month check up, my doctor sat me down for a talk. With the two permanent titanium rods supporting my spine, he said, 'you can do whatever you want but you cannot get injured because I can't fix you twice. You can't fall at speed and hit sideways into something that won't give'. For me, it became a decision about the people around me. And the risk was too great. In the end, the decision to hang up my cross-country spurs was easy." (practicalhorsemanmag.com, 01 May 2016, 05 May 2015)
STABLES
She and her husband David run O'Connor Equestrian, which has facilities in both Florida and Virginia in the United States of America. The pair offer coaching, training, clinics and camps. (oconnorequestrian.us, 22 Jun 2015)
COACH
She was appointed coach of the Mexican eventing team in January 2015. "There is tremendous support in Mexico, from the army and the civilians alike, for the implementation of a solid programme going forward to develop Mexico into a true competitive nation on the world stage." (horsetalk.co.nz, 21 Jan 2015)
OLYMPIC COUPLE
At the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, she and her husband David became the second married couple in Olympic history to win a medal together. The pair were both in the US squad that claimed silver in the team eventing competition. (useventing.com, 09 Apr 2007) |
Sport Specific Information |
| Club / Team |
O'Connor Equestrian: United States |
Olympic Games |
| Year |
Venue |
Horse |
Ind. Rank |
Team Rank |
| 2012 |
OG-C London (GBR) |
MR MEDICOTT |
9 |
7 |
| 2008 |
OG-C Hong Kong - Beijing (CHN) |
MANDIBA |
44 |
7 |
| 2000 |
OG-C Sydney NSW (AUS) |
PRINCE PANACHE |
3 |
3 |
| 1996 |
OG-C Atlanta GA (USA) |
Biko |
2 |
2 |
World Equestrian Games |
| Year |
Venue |
Horse |
Ind. Rank |
Team Rank |
| 2010 |
6th WEG-C Lexington KY (USA) |
MANDIBA |
19 |
4 |
| 2006 |
5th WEG-C Aachen (GER) |
UPSTAGE |
42 |
|
| 1998 |
3rd WEG-C Rome (ITA) |
PRINCE PANACHE |
RET |
4 |
| 1994 |
2nd WEG-C Den Haag (NED) |
Biko |
11 |
|
Continental Championships and Games |
| Year |
Venue |
Horse |
Ind. Rank |
Team Rank |
| 2007 |
Pan-Am Games-C3* Rio de Janeiro RJ (BRA) |
THEODORE O'CONNOR |
1 |
1 |
| 2003 |
Pan-Am Games-C3* Elkton MD (USA) |
JOKER'S WILD |
2 |
|
Other Events |
| Year |
Venue |
Horse |
Ind. Rank |
Team Rank |
| 2012 |
CCI4*-HSBC Lexington KY (USA) |
MR MEDICOTT |
4 |
|
| 2012 |
CCI4*-HSBC Lexington KY (USA) |
VERONICA |
EL |
|
| 2011 |
CCI4*-HSBC Lexington KY (USA) |
QUINTUS 54 |
13 |
|
| 2011 |
CCI4*-HSBC Badminton (GBR) |
MANDIBA |
EL |
|
| 2010 |
CCI4*-HSBC Lexington KY (USA) |
MANDIBA |
7 |
|
| 2009 |
CCI4*-HSBC Burghley (GBR) |
MANDIBA |
EL |
|
| 2008 |
CCI4*-HSBC Lexington KY (USA) |
THEODORE O'CONNOR |
6 |
|
| 2008 |
CCI4*-HSBC Lexington KY (USA) |
HUGH KNOWS |
WD |
|
| 2007 |
CCI4* Lexington KY (USA) |
THEODORE O'CONNOR |
3 |
|
| 2007 |
CCI4* Lexington KY (USA) |
UPSTAGE |
15 |
|
| 2006 |
CCI4* Lexington KY (USA) |
UPSTAGE |
12 |
|
| 2005 |
CCI4*-SC Lexington KY (USA) |
UPSTAGE |
7 |
|
| 2004 |
CCI4* Lexington KY (USA) |
BALLY-MAR |
16 |
|
| 2004 |
CCI4* Lexington KY (USA) |
GRAND SLAM |
22 |
|
| 2003 |
CCI4* Lexington KY (USA) |
UPSTAGE |
6 |
|
| 2003 |
CCI4* Lexington KY (USA) |
JOKER'S WILD |
7 |
|
| 2003 |
CCI4* Burghley (GBR) |
UPSTAGE |
27 |
|
| 2002 |
CCI4* Lexington KY (USA) |
GRAND SLAM |
12 |
|
| 2002 |
CCI4* Lexington KY (USA) |
UPSTAGE |
24 |
|
| 1997 |
CCI4* Badminton (GBR) |
Biko |
55 |
|
