#LGBTInnovators - Dressage Rider Carl Hester

27th February 2016

Carl Hester MBE is a British dressage rider. 

In 2011 Hester riding the horse Uthopia was part of the British team that won the team gold medal at the 2011 European Dressage Championship in Rotterdam. Hester also won individual silver medals in the Grand Prix Freestyle and Grand Prix Special. Competing at Olympic level Hester became the youngest British rider ever to compete in an Olympic Games. He was also Britains only openly gay Olympian.

At the 2012 London Olypics Hester won a team gold. The team, which included Laura Bechtolsheimer and Charlotte Dujardin, celebrated the country’s twentieth gold medal of the games, strengthening the host nation’s place third on the board.

Commenting on the gold win, he said:

“To come to an Olympics where we were expected to get a gold gave me a frightening feeling — and I enjoyed it.

“I am looking forward to it all being over, to get the individual competition out of the way now, but it’s a truly special minute for everyone in British dressage.”

Leap Sports is spotlighting #LGBTInnovators in sport throughout LGBT History Month this February. We will celebrate a different LGBTI innovator in sport each day. LGBTI sports innovators include athletes, competitors, coaches, managers, community members, founders or co-ordinators of sports groups, someone passionate about their sport.

Got an LGBTI innovator in sport that you would like to shine a light on?

Use your imagination and join the conversation using the hashtag #LGBTInnovators on Twitter @Leapsports and Facebook facebook.com/leapsports

Find out more about LGBT History Month at www.lgbthistory.org.uk