Canada’s most medalled Olympian, Eric Lamaze, has decided against riding at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Lamaze withdrew his name from consideration for selection for Canada’s one Olympic individual spot.
Canada did not qualify a team for the Olympics in unusual circumstances. The CAS decision left Canada with only one individual rider in the Olympic show jumping.
“I’ve always associated the Olympics with riding for the Canadian team,” said Lamaze. “I cannot be a true competitor without my team.”
Competing in a team gives many comforts, and to some extent affects the starting draw, what is today referred to as the order of go.
Lamaze cites his personal health as a primary reason for his decision to withdraw from competing in Tokyo, which is currently under a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For the past three years, he has been undergoing treatment for a brain tumor and continues to battle the condition with the support of his medical teams in Brussels, Belgium, and Paris, France.
“My health is something that I take very seriously, and I’ve decided that Tokyo is not the best venue for me,” said Lamaze, 53. “While my health is stable at the moment, there are several risk factors that have to be taken into consideration.”
With three Olympic medals to his credit – a gold, silver and bronze – Lamaze is the most successful Canadian equestrian athlete in Olympic history. In 2020, it was announced that he and his Olympic champion partner, Hickstead, would be inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.
To read the full article on Horse Sport, click here: Eric Lamaze Withdraws from Tokyo Olympic Consideration
Eric Lamaze won his third Olympic medal for Canada riding Fine Lady 5 at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Arnd Bronkhorst, www.arnd.nl)
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