Team GB gold medallist felt ‘sad to be British’ before Paris Olympics

Team GB gold medallist Laura Collett has explained why she felt ‘a bit sad to be British’ in the months leading up to the Paris Olympics.

The equestrian star helped Great Britain clinch their first gold medal of the 2024 Games as Team GB proved too strong for their rivals in Monday’s showjumping final at Chateau de Versailles.

Collett, Tom McEwen and Ros Canter dominated the field, finishing well clear of hosts France in second, while Japan completed the podium places by taking bronze.

Collett and McEwen also won gold in the team event at Tokyo 2020 and the former’s success continued later in the day as she claimed bronze in the individual event.

The 34-year-old, riding London 52, produced an impressive and penalty-free performance to clinch her second medal of the day behind gold medal winner Michael Jung and silver medallist Christopher Burton.

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That saw Collett, who almost died after a bad fall in 2013, become the first British woman to win an individual eventing medal since Kristina Cook in 2008.

Team GB have become the major player in the world of equestrian in recent years and Collett admits the intense competition to make the Olympic team made her ‘a bit sad to be British’ before her place in Paris was confirmed.

‘At the beginning of the year I was a bit sad that I was British because I thought there was no chance of getting on the team because it is so strong,’ said an emotional Collett. 

‘Realistically they could have sent a whole different team and they still would have come back with a gold medal.

‘Once you get selected you are very glad to be British because it means you ride alongside the likes of Tom and Ross and to have Yas [Ingham] here as well, willing us on.

‘It is a huge team effort and we are very lucky we got selected and could come and make sure we didn’t mess up. It’s so many years of hard work and blood, sweat and tears.

‘Emotional rollercoaster doesn’t even do it justice. Every single bad day is worth it. I just had to never give up and never lose hope and you can never dream too big.

‘I never thought this day would come. I owe absolutely everything to that horse and the team that have made it possible just to get here.’

Collett added: ‘I thought Tokyo was special but this is incomparable.

‘It has blown that out the water, going out in front of a crowd like this and feeling like every single person is willing you on. This is just a day I will never, ever forget.’

Great Britain’s equestrian victory marked the start of a successful day for team GB over in Paris, with several more athletes taking home medals.

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