Jimmy Wofford

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameJames Cunningham "Jimmy"•Wofford
Used nameJimmy•Wofford
Born3 November 1944 in Junction City, Kansas (USA)
Died2 February 2023 in Upperville, Virginia (USA)
Measurements173 cm / 70 kg
NOC United States
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 2
Bronze 0
Total 2

Biography

Jimmy Wofford is a member of the well-known American equestrian family. In his Olympic début in 1968 he was within reach of the individual gold medal when he met a freak accident on the flat during the show jumping phase. Despite this incident he still placed sixth. At the 1972 Olympics he individually finished back in 30th place but he again won a silver medal in the team event, although as a non-scoring member of the U.S. team. Wofford, who was educated at the Culver Military Academy and the University of Colorado also won a gold medal in the team event at the 1967 Pan-American Games, and placed third at the 1970 World Championships and third with the team at the 1978 World Championships.

Wofford competed until 1986 and afterwards became one of the world’s foremost eventing trainers. All four members of the US team at the Sydney Olympics had gone through his program. He also served as Canadian equestrian team coach from 2001-04. Wofford was President of the American Horse Shows Association from 1988-91. He was an officer with the US Equestrian Team (USET) and served as secretary of the US Combined Training Association (USCTA - later the United States Eventing Association) starting in 1971. He served on the FEI Eventing Committee in the 1990s and 2000s. He wrote several books, including Training The Three-Day Event Horse And Rider__ (1995), and ___Modern Gymnastics: Systematic Training For Jumping Horses (2013).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1968 Summer Olympics Equestrian Eventing (Equestrian) USA Jimmy Wofford
Individual, Open (Olympic) Kilkenny 6
Team, Open (Olympic) Kilkenny / United States 2 Silver
1972 Summer Olympics Equestrian Eventing (Equestrian) USA Jimmy Wofford
Individual, Open (Olympic) Kilkenny 30
Team, Open (Olympic) Kilkenny / United States 2 Silver

Olympic family relations

Special Notes