Equestrian

Inducted in 2018

At just 21, Wendy Schaeffer became the youngest woman to win Olympic Equestrian Gold. She finished the leading rider in the Australian team of world class equestrians – Phillip Dutton, Andrew Hoy and Gillian Rolton. Together they became Australia’s most successful equestrian team ever.

It was Wendy’s penalty free show jumping round following her clear jumping cross country performance that clinched the team Gold Medal for Australia in the three day event, at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Under previous rules that applied up until 1992, she would have also been awarded an individual Gold Medal. An achievement made even more incredible given that she was riding with a broken leg.

In 1996, Wendy’s horse ‘Sunburst’ finished the year ranked as the number 1 event horse in the world after his Olympic performance and his strong placing at the Badminton Horse Trials.

Wendy was ranked number eight in Sports Illustrated listing of “great athletes” at the Atlanta Games.