ECB Coaches Association links Inside Edge 6 May 2018 | Page 40

Nick Skelton has now been retired for
a year. He deserves a long and happy
retirement more than most. For four
decades he competed on the world
stage in show jumping, dramatically
winning individual gold at his seventh
Olympics, at the tender age of just
58. He has been telling Inside Edge
about the mental toughness needed
to win that gold at the last Olympics,
and how any sportsman can enjoy
such longevity.
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LONGEVITY IN SPORT
LONGEVITY IN SPORT
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Tim Dellor meets Nick Skelton.
Competing for 43 years makes retirement a difficult decision. The threat of
injuries and increased niggles makes it more straightforward. Winning at the
last Olympics in Rio was the perfect way to bow out.

I am often asked by sportspeople what keeps you motivated and driven
to continue for such a long time. In most sports you get one or two of us who
have longevity. I put it down to sheer bloody mindedness and determination.

I love riding, and that is all I ever wanted to do. You need some luck, and
the buzz of winning is what really keeps you going. To keep doing any sport for
43 years requires not just enjoyment, but true love and passion for that sport.

I was virtually born on a ponies back. I loved being outside with the
horses, and started learning how to ride at the age of eighteen months.

One of the defining moments of my career was when I broke my neck in
2000. I was off for 18 months and did not ride for two years. When I had that
accident I did not know what to do with myself. The horse I had at the time,
“Arko”, was my inspiration, and I just thought after 18 months to hell with it,
I will give it another shot. It was against all the medical experts advice, apart
from one surgeon I found who said it would be OK. I opted to take his advice
and ignored the rest who were telling me I had to stop. There is an important
message in there for injured sportspeople and for physios and those who
do rehab. After two years off, I remember the first time I got back in the
saddle. Unfortunately straight away I fell off. I remember all the staff at the
yard running for cover. There was nobody there to help me back up. Once I
started competing again I never once thought about my neck.
CONTINUE