SINCE his medal-laden plane full of British athletes touched down from Tokyo, Ben Maher’s feet have barely hit the ground. He eschewed a welcome-home party – “that’s not really my thing” – but was celebrated along with his heroic partner Explosion W in a parade in London. He’s replied to each of the hundreds of congratulatory messages he received – and politely turned down an offer to appear on Mastermind. Then there was his beautiful wedding to long-term partner Sophie Gracida at their Hertfordshire home.
Has he even had a chance to revel in the glory that being crowned Olympic champion rightfully deserves?
“It didn’t feel real at the time but I woke up at 4am the next day and it hit me,” says Ben, who was doubling up on the gold he won as part of Great Britain’s showjumping team in London 2012. “The dream to win an individual gold medal really was the most important thing to me and we’ve come close at recent championships, winning silver twice.
“That did start to play on my mind – especially at the last one [in 2019] where I felt I didn’t finish the job. You only get so many chances at the Olympics with the right horse at the right time.”
Ben certainly found the right horse and has been the envy of the equestrian world since 2018 when he took the reins full-time on the astonishingly talented Explosion W, whom he describes as a “natural born winner” and “the best I’ll ever ride”.
Grand prix titles fell into his hands with such ease that from the outside, it seemed all but a foregone conclusion that the Olympic crown could be added to the pair’s list of global accomplishments.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 02, 2021 من Horse & Hound.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 02, 2021 من Horse & Hound.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
New competition and classification to mean dressage will be for all
The new partnerships with British Dressage will provide opportunities for riders with intellectual disabilities
Pressure grows on the FEI to tackle concerns in dressage
A leading judge has made some recommendations he believes will help support the sport's future
Aidan Coleman
Just a week after he announced his enforced retirement with a career-ending injury, Aidan Coleman talks through his raw emotions with Kate Johnson as he ponders life outside the weighing room
Badminton groundsman
Phil Cole on flawless going for cross-country, perfecting his craft on polo pitches and being at the mercy of the weather
Pulling power
Carriage-driving horses have a very specific job, and with that can come specific injury risks. Rosie Mould MRCVS explains
'Plenty to get your teeth into'
This year's Badminton track is testing, but fair, says Nicola Wilson, the 2021 European champion who finished in the top 10 at this five-star four times
Townend leads British domination
The world number one spearheads a British clean sweep of the podium as he contests his 100th five-star
Birch is back in the big time
A former Olympic reserve rider scores her first international win in four years, while Kelsall specialists make their mark again
Comeback queens reign
Rehab work pays off for Anna Ross as she makes a winning return, while a pair of young riders' birthday wishes come true
Pender keeps it in the family
Ireland's Mikey Pender begins a remarkable grand prix winning double and it all comes together in the ring for a \"special character\"