Carl Hester

Sport: Equestrian

Nation: Great Britain

DOB: June 29, 1967

Hometown: Newent

Career Highlights: A veteran of the Great Britain Dressage team and a three-time Olympian, Carl Hester will fancy his chances of medalling at London. Raised on the small Channel Island of Sark, there were no vehicles on the island so a young Hester quickly became accustomed to horseback. Winning the Young Dressage Rider title in 1985 sparked a lengthy career that has seen him win over 50 national titles. Selected for the Great Britain Olympic team for Sydney, Athens and Beijing, Hester established himself as one of the country’s leading riders, and team silver medals at the European Championships in both 2009 and 2010 cemented his reputation as one of the world’s best. The 2011 European Championships in Rotterdam proved Hester’s career highlight, with individual silver medals in the Special and Freestyle events following a team gold alongside assistant trainer Charlotte Dujardin. The Netherlands and Germany are traditionally the strongest teams in Dressage and will again provide stiff competition for the British, while Laura Bechtolsheimer, Mary King and Zara Phillips will all have hopes of individual medals for Team GB.

Olympic History: 2008,2004,2000