Blyth Tait
Encyclopedia
Blyth Tait (born 10 May 1961 in Whangarei
) is a New Zealand
equestrian
. Tait has competed at four Olympics
and has won four medals, one of only four New Zealanders to do so.
Tait's first success at international level was at the 1990 World Equestrian Games
in Stockholm
, when he won Gold in both the individual and team events riding Messiah. At the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona
he won Bronze in the individual event after team-mate Vicki Latta
knocked down a rail in the showjumping, and Silver in the team event with Latta and Andrew Nicholson
(Mark Todd
was also in the team but was not awarded a medal as he did not finish the event). At the 1996 Summer Olympics
in Atlanta he won Gold in the individual and Bronze in the Team event. Tait repeated his World Championships double Gold effort at Rome
in 1998 riding Ready Teddy
. He was flag-bearer for the New Zealand team at the 2000 Summer Olympics
but he was eliminated in both the individual and team events. Tait completed his competitive Olympic career with a fifth in the team event at the 2004 Summer Olympics
in Athens
. He has been named as the eventing manager for the 2008 Summer Olympics
.
Whangarei
Whangarei, pronounced , is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the regional capital of Northland Region. Although commonly classified as a city, it is officially part of the Whangarei District, administered by the Whangarei District Council a local body created in 1989 to administer both the...
) is a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
equestrian
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
. Tait has competed at four Olympics
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
and has won four medals, one of only four New Zealanders to do so.
Tait's first success at international level was at the 1990 World Equestrian Games
World Equestrian Games
The FEI World Equestrian Games are the major international championships for equestrianism, and administered by the Fédération Equestre Internationale . The games have been held every four years, halfway between sets of consecutive Summer Olympic Games, since 1990...
in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, when he won Gold in both the individual and team events riding Messiah. At the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
he won Bronze in the individual event after team-mate Vicki Latta
Vicki Latta
Victoria Latta is a New Zealand horsewoman who won two medals at the Olympic Games....
knocked down a rail in the showjumping, and Silver in the team event with Latta and Andrew Nicholson
Andrew Nicholson
For the New Zealand ice speed skater with the same name see Andrew Nicholson Andrew Nicholson is a New Zealand horseman who was selected for six Olympic Games....
(Mark Todd
Mark Todd (equestrian)
Mark James Todd, CBE is a New Zealand horseman noted for his accomplishments in the discipline of eventing, voted Rider of the 20th Century by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports, Mark James Todd, CBE (born 1 March 1956) is a New Zealand horseman noted for his accomplishments in the...
was also in the team but was not awarded a medal as he did not finish the event). At the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
in Atlanta he won Gold in the individual and Bronze in the Team event. Tait repeated his World Championships double Gold effort at Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1998 riding Ready Teddy
Ready Teddy (horse)
Ready Teddy was an eventing horse competitively ridden by New Zealand equestrian Blyth Tait. He is believed to be the only horse to have ever won individual gold at both the Olympic Games and the World Equestrian Games . He also won at the Burghley Horse Trials in 2000. Ready Teddy died on 23...
. He was flag-bearer for the New Zealand team at the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
but he was eliminated in both the individual and team events. Tait completed his competitive Olympic career with a fifth in the team event at the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
. He has been named as the eventing manager for the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
.
Olympic record
- 1992Equestrian at the 1992 Summer OlympicsThe Equestrian Events at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics included Dressage, Eventing, and Show Jumping. All three disciplines had both individual and team competitions.-Medals:-Medallists:-References:*...
: individual bronze; team silver (both on Messiah) - 1996Equestrian at the 1996 Summer OlympicsThe Equestrian events were held at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers, United States, -Medal summary:-Medal table:-References:*...
: individual gold (on Ready Teddy); team bronze (on Chesterfield) - 2000Equestrian at the 2000 Summer OlympicsThe Equestrian Events at the 2000 Sydney Olympics included Dressage, Eventing, and Show Jumping. All three disciplines had both individual and team competitions.-Medals:-Event Summary:-Riders:*Imtiaz Anees*David O'Connor *Andrew Hoy*Mark Todd...
: individual did not finish (on Welton Envoy); team did not finish (on Ready Teddy) - 2004Equestrian at the 2004 Summer OlympicsThe events of the Equestrian at the 2004 Summer Olympics featured three equestrian disciplines: dressage, eventing and jumping. All three disciplines are further divided into individual and team contests for a total of six events....
: individual 18th; team 5th (both on Ready Teddy)