Karin Donckers

Karin Donckers has been involved in top class riding for more than 18 years. The 37-year-old rider has competed in four Olympic Games, claiming ninth individual position at the Beijing Games this summer.

Karin started riding when she was just nine years old at St Clement Minderhout. Her big breakthrough on to the international stage was at Saumur in 1992, where she was part of the winning Belgian team and earned an individual third place.

Her first Olympic Games was in Barcelona in 1992, when a young and inexperienced Belgian team came fourth and Karin achieved an excellent eighth individual place against 86 competitors from 17 countries.

Karin missed out on taking part in Atlanta in 1996 as her horses were not fit, but competed in Sydney 2000, despite a devastating build up to the Games. In February, ahead of the Games, a fire broke out in the garage that bordered the stables, where 20 horses were housed. Most of the horses were ushered to safety in the nearby meadows, but three broke out of the field and were killed on the road. This included Better Times, who Karin was due to ride at Sydney. Karin's misfortunes continued when she fell and broke her vertebrae in the show jumping.

Karin continues to achieve top-ten placings on a regular basis in competitions across the world.

Karin's Record
8th FEI Rider Ranking (as at 1 January 2008)

Represented Belgium at the European Championships 2007 and Olympics in 1992, 2000, 2004 and Beijing in 2008; World Equestrian Games 2006.

Other recent notable successes are:
9th Individually Beijing Olympics 2008 (Gazelle de la Brasserie)
4th Blenheim CCI*** 2005 (Gormley)
2nd Barroca d'Alva CCI*** 2008 (Gazelle de la Brasserie)
4th Aachen CIC*** 2007 (Palmyra)
6th Luhmühlen CCI**** 2007 (Gormley)