Harvey Smith

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameRobert Harvey•Smith
Used nameHarvey•Smith
Born29 December 1938 in Bingley, England (GBR)
Measurements180 cm / 76 kg
NOC Great Britain

Biography

Harvey Smith recorded his first major show jumping win in 1958 with Farmer’s Boy. It began a career that saw him win the John Player Trophy seven times, the King George V Gold Cup once and the British Jumping Derby four times. Smith took part in both the 1968 and 1972 Olympics but failed to win a medal. Smith won five medals at the European Championships, three in the individual event, and was the bronze medalist at the 1970 World Championships. He later became a BBC commentator on show jumping, notably for the 1984 Olympics. His world-wide fame is due as much to his fighting spirit and his no-holds-barred approach to his sport as to his prowess as a rider. He also wrote several popular books about equestrian sport, and in the 1970s had a brief career as a professional wrestler and as a professional singer.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1968 Summer Olympics Equestrian Jumping (Equestrian) GBR Harvey Smith
Individual, Open (Olympic) Madison Time 11
Team, Open (Olympic) Madison Time / Great Britain 8
1972 Summer Olympics Equestrian Jumping (Equestrian) GBR Harvey Smith
Team, Open (Olympic) Summertime / Great Britain 4

Olympic family relations