Not many people have heard of Eric Lamaze, a horse rider par excellence. Horse riding isn’t a very popular sport in India, but it is an Olympic event. Lamaze is an Olympic Gold Medalist, and has won several other competitions including the Equestrian Grand Prix.
Early Years
Lamaze was born on April 17th 1968 in Montreal, Quebec, which is located on the Eastern Coast of Canada. Lamaze was raised there by his grand- mother and by 15 dropped out of school, to work in the horse industry under top trainers Roger Deslauriers, George Morris, Jay Hayes and Hugh Graham. His natural talent as na rider was soon recognized, and with little financial backing he was able to work his way to the top of a sport often considered for the elite. Soon, he was …show more content…
The suspension was ultimately reduced to 7 months following an ap- peal. Eric Lamaze put in a lot of effort and once again earned a spot on the Cana- dian Olympic Team in 2000.
Atlanta,
Unfortunately, he was removed again from the team when he tested pos- itive for banned substances (cold medication and diet pills, and later co- caine). This time his ban was for life, but it was ultimately overturned after a very controversial trial in front of the F.E.I. (Federation Equestre Inter- nationale).
Rebuilding His Career
Eric Lamaze spent the next 7 years rebuilding his career and damaged reputation. As a horse trader and trainer, he built his Torrey Pines Stable in Schomberg, Ontario, into a successful enterprise.
As a rider, Lamaze continued to perform well, representing Canada in an additional three world championships which were held in 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 as well as in 2010. In 2007 Eric Lamaze won Canada's richest show jumping purse, the $1 million CN International at Spruce Meadows. That year he became the first Canadian rider in 20 years to be ranked in the top-10 in the world, and he became the first North American rider to win prize money in excess of $1 million in one year. For his efforts he was named Equine Canada's 2007 Equestrian of the Year.Lamaze was named to the top spot for the first time in the January 2009 Rolex World Rankings for show jumping by the In- ternational Equestrian Federation,Lamaze returned to No. 1 for July
Early Years
Lamaze was born on April 17th 1968 in Montreal, Quebec, which is located on the Eastern Coast of Canada. Lamaze was raised there by his grand- mother and by 15 dropped out of school, to work in the horse industry under top trainers Roger Deslauriers, George Morris, Jay Hayes and Hugh Graham. His natural talent as na rider was soon recognized, and with little financial backing he was able to work his way to the top of a sport often considered for the elite. Soon, he was …show more content…
The suspension was ultimately reduced to 7 months following an ap- peal. Eric Lamaze put in a lot of effort and once again earned a spot on the Cana- dian Olympic Team in 2000.
Atlanta,
Unfortunately, he was removed again from the team when he tested pos- itive for banned substances (cold medication and diet pills, and later co- caine). This time his ban was for life, but it was ultimately overturned after a very controversial trial in front of the F.E.I. (Federation Equestre Inter- nationale).
Rebuilding His Career
Eric Lamaze spent the next 7 years rebuilding his career and damaged reputation. As a horse trader and trainer, he built his Torrey Pines Stable in Schomberg, Ontario, into a successful enterprise.
As a rider, Lamaze continued to perform well, representing Canada in an additional three world championships which were held in 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 as well as in 2010. In 2007 Eric Lamaze won Canada's richest show jumping purse, the $1 million CN International at Spruce Meadows. That year he became the first Canadian rider in 20 years to be ranked in the top-10 in the world, and he became the first North American rider to win prize money in excess of $1 million in one year. For his efforts he was named Equine Canada's 2007 Equestrian of the Year.Lamaze was named to the top spot for the first time in the January 2009 Rolex World Rankings for show jumping by the In- ternational Equestrian Federation,Lamaze returned to No. 1 for July