“I could feel tears of triumph and humility,” he recalls. “I had fought for Australia in the war, and now I was battling again for my country in sport. In all my dreams and ambitions, I had never imagined achieving such a great honour.” During the Rome Olympics, Australia confirmed its reputation as a force to be reckoned with in eventing by winning a gold medal. The team included Lawrence Morgan, Neale Lavis, Bill Roycroft and Brian Crago. During the cross-country event, Roycroft fell and had to be airlifted to hospital, leaving three riders to compete – and Crago’s horse had already been withdrawn from the competition. Against doctor’s orders, 45-year-old Roycroft left the hospital. He competed with one arm in a sling, completed a clear show-jumping round, and helped the team secure gold. He went on to compete in five Olympic Games in all. He also produced 23 Olympic horses and his sons Barry, Wayne and Clarke also became Olympic riders. Bill and Wayne won bronze in 1968 and in 1976, becoming the first father and son team to share the winners’ podium at the same time. Australia continued to enjoy equestrian success and earn medals. The eventing team won bronze in Montreal and gold in Barcelona (1992), Atlanta (1996) and Sydney (2000). Andrew Hoy proved a stalwart of the eventing team, competing in seven Olympic Games in total, the only Australian to do so. He failed to gain selection for Rio, but is making it number eight this year in Tokyo.
Andrew Hoy riding Vassily De Lassos at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. (Stephen McCarthy/Getty Images)
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