Eric Lamaze
Encyclopedia
Eric Lamaze is a Canadian show jumper
. He and his best known horse, Hickstead
, completed the rare feat of only having one rail during the entire Olympic Games.
, Quebec
. Lamaze was taught to ride at a young age by celebrated coach Diane Dubuc, in Montreal. Dubuc spent timeless hours with Lamaze, helping him create a foundation for his career in Jumping. Currently Dubuc runs a stable in Montreal called Day By Day Stables, where Lamaze still has ties. Lamaze has credited show jumping with helping him get past his tough childhood and turning around his life.
Lamaze currently lives in Schomberg
, Ontario
, where he coaches at his own barn, Torrey Pines.
In the January 2009 Rolex World Rankings by the International Equestrian Federation, Lamaze was name to the top spot for the first time. Lamaze returned to No. 1 for July 2010
in Atlanta, Georgia
, but lost his place and received a four year suspension after testing positive for cocaine
. Arbitrator Ed Ratushny overturned the suspension, although Lamaze had already missed the Atlanta Games when the ruling came down.
Lamaze rebuilt his career and ascended the rankings, being again regarded as a key member of the Canadian team for the Sydney Games
. However he tested positive for a banned stimulant, which resulted in his removal from the team and facing a lifetime ban. Right afterwards, a despondent Lamaze contemplated suicide and while drunk he smoked a cigarette laced with cocaine. Forty-eight hours later, the test for the banned stimulate was reversed on appeal, however Lamaze then tested positive for cocaine which would also have meant a lifetime ban. Arbitrator Ed Ratushny overturned the cocaine test, but the Canadian Olympic Committee refused to reinstate Lamaze on the Canadian team.
Lamaze competed in the Beijing Olympics
, riding the stallion
Hickstead
. He was awarded a silver medal after a strong performance in the team event. Lamaze went on to win a gold medal in the individual show jumping event of the 2008 Beijing Olympics at the Shatin Equestrian Venue
in Hong Kong as a result of a "jump off" between himself and the Swedish rider Rolf-Goran Bengtsson
, riding Ninja.
Show jumping
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping," "open jumping," or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes commonly are seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics...
. He and his best known horse, Hickstead
Hickstead (horse)
Hickstead was a stallion ridden by Canadian Eric Lamaze. With rider Lamaze, he was an Olympic gold and silver medalist in show jumping. Hickstead was owned by Torrey Pines and Ashland Stables Inc....
, completed the rare feat of only having one rail during the entire Olympic Games.
Early life
He was born in MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. Lamaze was taught to ride at a young age by celebrated coach Diane Dubuc, in Montreal. Dubuc spent timeless hours with Lamaze, helping him create a foundation for his career in Jumping. Currently Dubuc runs a stable in Montreal called Day By Day Stables, where Lamaze still has ties. Lamaze has credited show jumping with helping him get past his tough childhood and turning around his life.
Lamaze currently lives in Schomberg
Schomberg, Ontario
Schomberg is an unincorporated village in northwestern King, Ontario, Canada. Situated north of the Oak Ridges Moraine and south of the Holland River, the village is surrounded by natural attractions....
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, where he coaches at his own barn, Torrey Pines.
Career
In 2007, Lamaze became the first Canadian rider in 20 years to make the top ten in the world rankings. He was also the first North American rider to exceed one million in prize money a year, a third of these earnings came as a result of winning the CN International Grand Prix at Spruce Meadows.In the January 2009 Rolex World Rankings by the International Equestrian Federation, Lamaze was name to the top spot for the first time. Lamaze returned to No. 1 for July 2010
Olympics
Lamaze was named to the Canadian team for the 1996 Summer Olympics1996 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, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, but lost his place and received a four year suspension after testing positive for cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
. Arbitrator Ed Ratushny overturned the suspension, although Lamaze had already missed the Atlanta Games when the ruling came down.
Lamaze rebuilt his career and ascended the rankings, being again regarded as a key member of the Canadian team for the Sydney Games
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...
. However he tested positive for a banned stimulant, which resulted in his removal from the team and facing a lifetime ban. Right afterwards, a despondent Lamaze contemplated suicide and while drunk he smoked a cigarette laced with cocaine. Forty-eight hours later, the test for the banned stimulate was reversed on appeal, however Lamaze then tested positive for cocaine which would also have meant a lifetime ban. Arbitrator Ed Ratushny overturned the cocaine test, but the Canadian Olympic Committee refused to reinstate Lamaze on the Canadian team.
Lamaze competed in the Beijing 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...
, riding the stallion
Stallion
A Stallion is a male horse.Stallion may also refer to:* Stallion , an American pop rock group* Stallion , a figure in the Gobot toyline* Stallion , a character in the console role-playing game series...
Hickstead
Hickstead (horse)
Hickstead was a stallion ridden by Canadian Eric Lamaze. With rider Lamaze, he was an Olympic gold and silver medalist in show jumping. Hickstead was owned by Torrey Pines and Ashland Stables Inc....
. He was awarded a silver medal after a strong performance in the team event. Lamaze went on to win a gold medal in the individual show jumping event of the 2008 Beijing Olympics at the Shatin Equestrian Venue
Equestrian at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Equestrian competitions at the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics were held from August 9 to August 21 at the Hong Kong Sports Institute and Sheung Yue River in Hong Kong. It was the second time the equestrian events were hosted by a member of the IOC other than the member hosting the main games...
in Hong Kong as a result of a "jump off" between himself and the Swedish rider Rolf-Goran Bengtsson
Rolf-Göran Bengtsson
Rolf-Göran Bengtsson is a Swedish show jumper. He won a silver medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics in the individual jumping, and also a silver medal in the team jumping event at the 2004 Summer Olympics....
, riding Ninja.
Other Major Wins with Hickstead
- Sept. 2011 - Spruce Meadows $1 million CN International
- July 2011 - Spruce Meadows $200,000 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (Record 4x)
- May 2011 - 200,000 Euro Grand Prix of Rome, 200,000 Euro Grand Prix of La Baule,
- July 2010 - Spruce Meadows $200,000 Queen Elizabeth II Cup
- July 2010 - Aachen World Equestrian Festival
External links
- Eric Lamaze at Olympic.ca
- Eric Lamaze at Torrey Pines Stable