Born in Montreal in 1968, Eric is one of the best known Canadian show jumping athletes. In 2007, he became the first Canadian in 20 years to enter the top 10 in the FEI Rankings and, the following year, won individual gold and team silver at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong. Following the tragic death of his beloved stallion Hickstead in 2011, Eric considered quitting the sport, not sure that he wanted to continue without his superstar. However, he kept going and went on to earn individual bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympics. Towards the end of 2018, Eric was diagnosed with a brain tumour. He didn’t compete for most of the winter 2018/2019 season but was able to pick up again at Wellington, USA, in March of this year. Not every day is a good day, but he has successfully come back to competing and winning at the 5* level. Eric is a fighter; a man who never gives up no matter what challenges lie ahead. Facing up to one of life’s toughest battles, Eric credits equestrian sport as his key motivator: “It keeps me happy and gives me a great reason to get up every morning and to do something that I love doing.”
A public vote for the FEI Awards 2019 will count for 50% alongside the vote of a distinguished panel of judges. Make sure you have your say and vote for our Canadian hero at www.fei.org/awards! Voting closes on Oct. 7, so don’t miss out.
The winners will be revealed at a star-studded FEI Awards Gala presented by Longines on Nov. 19 at the Kremlin State Palace in Moscow, RUS.