Mary King

Mary King has established herself as an equestrian icon in Britain. With a career spanning 20 successful years, the 47-year-old mother-of-two has just added an Olympic bronze medal to an impressive list of accolades.

Mary, who is a regular member of the senior British squad, has won four team gold medals at World Equestrian Games and European Championships. She has been British Champion a record five times.

Her career was almost finished in 2001 when she fell and broke her neck while schooling a young horse at home. Less than a year later she was back at the top of the sport recording top-ten placings at major international events, including a third placing at Burghley and even making it into the British squad for the World Championships in 2002.

Mary's family had no involvement with horses until she started riding the vicar's pony at the age of six. A trip to the Badminton Horse Trials inspired Mary to make eventing her career. She worked tirelessly on a butcher's delivery round and as a gardener, cook and chalet girl to fund her passion.

Her hard work paid off when she became head girl to Sheila Willcox, a former European Champion and Badminton winner, and in 1985 she made her Badminton debut, finishing in seventh position. In 1992 she added her name to the famous trophy with King William, the only horse to accumulate more than 2000 points in competition.

Mary King lives with her husband, David, and two children, Emily and Freddie, near Sidmouth in Devon.

Mary's Record
7th placed FEI Rider Rankings (as at 1 January 2008)

Four team gold medals at World and European Championships and the title of British Champion a record four times. She has also represented Britain at the last five Olympic Games including Beijing in 2008.

Other recent notable successes are:
Team Bronze Beijing Olympics 2008 (Call Again Cavalier)
Team Gold & Individual Silver European Championships 2007, (Call Again Cavalier)
Team Silver World Championships Aachen 2006 (Call Again Cavalier)
Team Silver Athens Olympic Games 2004 (King Solomon III)
1st Badminton Horse Trials CCI**** 1992 and 2000(King William and Star Appeal)