Gillian Rolton facts for kids
Gillian Rolton with Peppermint Grove
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| Full name | Gillian Rolton | ||||||||||||||||
| Nationality |  Australia |
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| Born | 3 May 1956 Adelaide, South Australia |
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| Died | 18 November 2017 (aged 61) Adelaide, South Australia |
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Medal record
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Gillian Rolton (born 3 May 1956, died 18 November 2017) was an amazing Australian Olympic champion in horse riding. She was known for her incredible courage. Gillian competed in two Olympic Games. She won a gold medal in team eventing at both the 1992 Barcelona Games and the 1996 Atlanta Games. Her horse, Peppermint Grove, was her partner in these victories.
At the 1996 Atlanta Games, Gillian had a terrible fall. She broke her collarbone and ribs. But she got back on her horse and finished the race! This showed her incredible determination. She is one of only four Australians to win more than one Olympic gold medal in horse riding.
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Gillian Rolton's Early Life
Gillian Rolton was born in Adelaide, South Australia, on 3 May 1956. Her father was a builder. She had an older brother named John. Gillian went to Woodlands Girls Grammar School.
She was a talented swimmer and even made the state team. However, her school preferred team sports. So, Gillian had to stop swimming. That's when she started horse riding. She got her first horse when she was ten years old. Soon, she was competing in horse shows. She rode a pony at the Royal Adelaide Show in the children's class.
Gillian left Woodlands school in Year 10. She finished her schooling at Marion High School. She continued riding horses and also enjoyed surfing. After finishing school, she studied education at Sturt College. She wanted to become a teacher.
Becoming a Riding Instructor
Gillian loved teaching children to swim and ride horses. She decided she wanted to be a professional riding instructor. At that time, there were no places in Australia to get this qualification. So, she had to go overseas.
She used money from a car accident settlement to pay for her trip. Before she left, she bought her first event horse, Saville Row, for $200. In 1975, she went to Edmonton, Canada. She studied at Grant MacEwan Community College. Her classes taught her about horse anatomy, how to manage horses, and stable care. She also learned show jumping, which was new to her. The course usually took two years, but Gillian finished it in one year because of her experience. She passed her final exam with a score of 98 percent.
Gillian Rolton's Equestrian Career
After returning to Australia, Gillian rode Saville Row at the 1978 Royal Adelaide Show. She won the prize for Champion Lady Rider. She started competing internationally in 1984. She tried out for the Australian team for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. But Saville Row got injured, and she missed out.
In September 1985, she married Greg Rolton, who was also a rider. She competed at the 1986 FEI World Equestrian Games with a new horse, Benton's Way. The Australian team finished in third place. She tried again for the Olympics in 1988. But she dislocated her elbow before the final tryout, so she couldn't compete.
Olympic Gold Medals
In 1987, Gillian bought a horse for $2,000. She named him Peppermint Grove. She retired Benton's Way after winning the 1988 Australian Championships. Then, she started competing with Peppermint Grove.
In 1992, Gillian was chosen for the Australian Olympic team at the last minute. She had beaten all the male riders in the selection trials in England. The Australian team went on to win a gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Gillian Rolton was the first Australian woman to win an Olympic medal in horse riding.
Gillian won the Australian championships again in 1995. She was then selected for the team at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The Australian team was close to winning another gold medal. But during the endurance part of the event, Peppermint Grove slipped. Gillian fell off. She got back on, not knowing she had broken her collarbone and ribs. She couldn't use her left arm. At the next jump, she fell into the water. But she got back on her horse again.
Now, she had trouble breathing because her lung was punctured. Even so, she held on. She rode Peppermint Grove over 15 more jumps for about 3 kilometers. After the race, she was taken to the hospital. She refused painkillers in case she had to ride the next day. She didn't have to, but her brave ride inspired her team. They went on to win the gold medal. She once said on ABC Television's Australian Story: "You don't go to the Games to be a wuss... you go to the Games because you've got to get through those finish flags no matter what."
Gillian Rolton's Later Life
After the 1996 Olympics, Gillian rode a new horse named Endeavour. He was inexperienced. She did not qualify for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. However, she was chosen as one of the eight people to carry the Olympic flag at the opening ceremony.
After the Sydney Games, Gillian stopped competing. But she stayed very involved with horse riding. She opened her own riding school. From 2001 to 2007, she started and coached the Mitsubishi National Young Rider Squad. This program helped talented young riders move up to senior levels. She also helped create the National Interschools Program.
Gillian was a national selector until 2007. Then, she became a judge for the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI). She served on the main jury at the 2012 London Olympics. She was also the President of the Grand Jury at the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games.
Her Final Years
In 2015, Gillian was diagnosed with endometrial cancer. Later, doctors found the cancer had spread. She was told the disease was terminal. She was admitted to a hospital in Adelaide in September 2017. Gillian died there on 18 November 2017. Her husband, Greg, survived her.
At the time of her death, Gillian was the Event Director of the Australian International Three Day Event in Adelaide. She had held this job for ten years. She continued working on the event even from her hospital bed.
Recognition and Awards
Gillian Rolton received many honors for her achievements. In 1993, she was awarded the Order of Australia Medal. This was "for service to sport as a gold medallist in the equestrian three-day event at the Olympic Games."
In 2000, she was added to the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. In 2010, she was inducted into the South Australian Sport Hall of Fame. In 2016, she was given "legend status" in the South Australian Sport Hall of Fame. She joined famous athletes like Sir Donald Bradman. Also in 2016, she was inducted into the Equestrian Australia Hall of Fame for her service to the sport. In 2017, she received Adelaide's highest honor: the keys to the city.
See also
In Spanish: Gillian Rolton para niños
