Hester Eyes Historic Eighth Olympic Appearance Amid Tight Team GB Selection
The 59-year-old, who recently secured a silver medal at the FEI World Championships, seeks to surpass the seven-appearance record held jointly with Nick Skelton, though final selection remains contingent on horse fitness and lottery funding performance.
Dressage rider Carl Hester is targeting a historic eighth Olympic Games appearance, a move that would establish a new record for Team GB. The 59-year-old from the Channel Island of Sark recently contributed to Great Britain’s qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Games by helping secure a silver medal at the FEI World Championships.
Hester currently shares the British record of seven Olympic appearances with show-jumper Nick Skelton. His previous seven Games have yielded medals at four occasions, including team gold at London 2012, team silver at Rio 2016, and individual bronze medals at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. He first competed at the Barcelona Games in 1992, missing only the 1996 and 2008 Olympics.
While Hester expressed pride at the prospect of holding a unique record, he acknowledged the rigorous selection process ahead for the 2028 squad. He noted that only three riders are selected for the team, creating intense competition within a large pool of British riders. Past appearances do not guarantee a spot, as selection committees must verify that both rider and horse are completely sound and fit.
The outcome for Hester’s potential eighth Games depends heavily on his current nine-year-old horse, which will be 11 at the time of the LA 2028 event. Hester believes the horse should be at the peak of its performance by then, though he cautioned that he cannot guarantee the animal will be fit or good enough to secure selection. He admitted to being cautious about making definitive predictions, having been "caught out" by similar statements in the past.
Hester also highlighted the critical link between medal success and National Lottery funding. With the British dressage team winning medals at the last four Olympic Games, he stressed that continued success is essential to secure the financial resources required for preparation. Final team selection typically occurs between one month and five weeks before the Games to ensure optimal fitness levels.
