Reiner Klimke
There is no doubt that Germany’s Reiner Klimke is the greatest dressage rider in the history of the Olympics. Klimke snatched eight medals (six gold and two bronze) at the Olympics. As of this time, he is the athlete with the most gold medals and medals won. He took part in a total of six Olympic Games from 1960 up to 1988, save it for the 1980 edition which was boycotted by West Germany.
Klimke also posted a decent record at the World Championships where he won four gold medals in the team event and two gold medals in the individual event. Even though he started a career in dressage he later shifted to eventing. He also aided his FRG team capture the three-day European team championship.
Klimke came from a well-off family as he is the son of a psychologist and a neurologist. He tied the knot with Ruth, who is also a top show jumping and dressage rider and they were gifted with three children: Ingrid, Rolf, and Michael. Ingrid takes part in dressage and eventing and she nailed a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, two decades after her father won his final Olympic gold. Michael is also competitor at the Grand Prix level in dressage.
Related Pages
- equestrian dressage at the Olympics
- Germany at the Olympics
- sport in Germany
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