Eric Lamaze facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eric Lamaze
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Personal information
Full name	Eric Lamaze
Nationality	Canada
Discipline	Show jumping
Born	(1968-04-17) April 17, 1968 (age 57) Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Medal record Representing  Canada Equestrian Olympic Games Gold 2008 Beijing Individual jumping Silver 2008 Beijing Team jumping Bronze 2016 Rio de Janeiro Individual jumping World Equestrian Games Bronze 2010 Lexington Individual jumping Pan American Games Gold 2015 Toronto Team jumping Silver 2007 Rio de Janeiro Team jumping Bronze 1999 Winnipeg Team jumping Bronze 2007 Rio de Janeiro Individual jumping

Eric Lamaze (born April 17, 1968) is a Canadian showjumper and Olympic champion. He is famous for winning an individual gold medal and a team silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He achieved this amazing victory with his famous horse, Hickstead.

Throughout his career, Lamaze won three Olympic medals, four Pan American Games medals, and a World Equestrian Games bronze medal. He is known as one of Canada's greatest showjumpers. Currently, he is not allowed to take part in equestrian events.

Early Life and Training

Eric Lamaze was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He began riding horses when he was twelve years old. To pay for his riding time, he worked at the stables.

People quickly noticed his talent, and he became a top junior rider. He trained with several famous coaches, including Roger Deslauriers, George Morris, Jay Hayes, and Hugh Graham.

Career as a Showjumper

Starting Out

Lamaze started competing in high-level grand prix events around 1992. Just a year later, he was chosen for the Canadian equestrian team. His first big event with the national team was the 1994 World Equestrian Games.

Lamaze was selected for the Canadian team for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. However, he was disqualified for breaking competition rules and could not compete. He also missed the 2000 Sydney Games for similar reasons.

The Hickstead Years (2007–2011)

Lamaze's career reached new heights when he began riding a powerful stallion named Hickstead. In 2007, Lamaze became the first Canadian rider in 20 years to be ranked in the top ten in the world. He also became the first North American rider to win over one million dollars in prize money in a single year.

Olympic Glory

At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Lamaze and Hickstead had an incredible performance. They helped the Canadian team win a silver medal in the team event.

Then, in the individual event, Lamaze and Hickstead competed in a thrilling jump-off for the gold medal. They won, making Lamaze an Olympic champion.

World's Number One

After his Olympic success, Lamaze became the number one ranked showjumper in the world in 2009. He and Hickstead continued to win major events all over the globe, including competitions in France, Germany, and Canada.

In 2011, Hickstead sadly died during a competition in Italy. Lamaze was heartbroken and even thought about retiring from the sport.

Later Career and Retirement

After Hickstead's death, Lamaze continued to compete with other horses. He rode a mare named Derly Chin De Muze at the 2012 London Olympics.

In 2016, he competed in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics with a mare named Fine Lady 5. He helped Canada's team finish fourth and won a bronze medal for himself in the individual jumping event.

In 2019, Lamaze shared that he was dealing with a serious health challenge. Despite his illness, he kept competing for a while. However, he decided not to compete in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo to focus on his health.

On March 31, 2022, Lamaze announced his retirement from show jumping. He planned to stay involved in the sport as a coach for the Canadian team. In 2023, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) banned Lamaze from competition until 2027 for not following the rules.

International Championship Results

Results
Year	Event	Horse	Placing	Notes
1994	World Equestrian Games	Cagney	7th	Team
			28th	Individual
1995	World Cup Final	Cagney	18th
1996	World Cup Final	Rio Grande	RET
1998	World Cup Final	Cagney	23rd
1998	World Equestrian Games	Cagney	10th	Team
			53rd	Individual
1999	Pan American Games	Kahlua		Team
			10th	Individual
2002	World Equestrian Games	Raphael	10th	Team
			69th	Individual
2003	Pan American Games	Rosalinde	5th	Team
			18th	Individual
2005	World Cup Final	Tempete v/h Lindehof	16th
2006	World Equestrian Games	Hickstead	13th	Team
			27th	Individual
2007	Pan American Games	Hickstead		Team
				Individual
2008	Olympic Games	Hickstead		Team
				Individual
2010	World Equestrian Games	Hickstead	5th	Team
				Individual
2011	World Cup Final	Hickstead
2011	Pan American Games	Coriana van Klapscheut	4th	Team
			11th	Individual
2012	World Cup Final	Coriana van Klapscheut	12th
2012	Olympic Games	Derly Chin de Muze	5th	Team
			29th	Individual
2014	World Equestrian Games	Zigali P S	8th	Team
			34th	Individual
2015	Pan American Games	Coco Bongo		Team
			22nd	Individual
2016	Olympic Games	Fine Lady 5	4th	Team
				Individual
2018	World Equestrian Games	Chacco Kid	10th	Team
			58th	Individual
EL = Eliminated; RET = Retired; WD = Withdrew

See also

• Canada at the 2008 Summer Olympics