Equestrian has seen plenty of legends come and go, but few measure up to Phillip Dutton. Dutton holds a unique place in Olympics history as the only athlete to win medals for two nations. Although Dutton will represent the United States in Tokyo this year, he represented Australia at two Olympics previously.
Phillip Dutton is an Olympics legend
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Born in Nyngan, New South Wales in Australia, Phillip Dutton began his training in the sport in his home country, before moving to the USA in 1991. The equestrian scenario in the US was far more competitive than in Australia, and Dutton needed the competitive environment to improve.
He improved so much; he represented Australia in three Olympics and four World Equestrian Championships. In his first Olympics, Dutton won gold in the team eventing competition. His teammate, the legendary Andrew Hoy, will represent Australia in Tokyo this year. He repeated the feat in 2000 in front of his home crowd in Sydney.
In 2006, Dutton shocked the equestrian world when he changed his citizenship, which allowed him to ride for the United States of America. Australia lost one of its star performers, and Dutton even thanked the EFA for his career. He said, “It has been an honour to be a member of the EFA and to represent Australia internationally for the past 12 years.”
Dutton represented USA in Beijing 2008, but got disqualified for his boots being too heavy. To his misfortune, Australia took home silver in the team eventing competition. At Rio 2016, Dutton turned his luck around and won the bronze medal in the individual eventing competition. At 57, his hunger for gold hasn’t been satiated yet.
Dutton leads USA’s eventing squad at Tokyo Olympics 2021
Having led Australia to back-to-back wins and winning a bronze for the USA, Phillip Dutton is the most experienced member of Team USA’s eventing team. Joining him in Tokyo is former Olympian Boyd Martin and debutante Liz Halliday-Sharp.
US Eventing’s Performance Director Erik Duvander is very confident in his team’s abilities at the Tokyo Games. With his faith in experienced riders Martin and Dutton, the Swede had special praise for the debuting Halliday-Sharp. A former racecar driver, Halliday-Sharp will have to channel the same passion that made her the most successful female driver in the American Le Mans Series.
Does Dutton have what it takes to take his team to the podium? Will the US team succumb to the mighty French, German and British teams this year?
Read more: Aussie Equestrian Legend Andrew Hoy Enters a Staggering Eighth Olympic Games at Tokyo 2021
