27 Facts About Gillian Rolton

Gillian Rolton was an Australian Olympic equestrian champion.

Gillian Rolton competed in two Olympic Games, the 1992 Barcelona Games and 1996 Atlanta Games, winning a gold medal in team eventing both times on her horse, Peppermint Grove.

Gillian Rolton was one of four Australians to win multiple equestrian Olympic gold medals.

Gillian Rolton was born in Adelaide, South Australia, on 3 May 1956, the daughter of a builder.

Gillian Rolton participated in swimming, qualifying for the South Australian sub-junior state team, but the school frowned on individual sports, and she had to give it up.

Gillian Rolton got her first horse at the age of ten, and soon began riding competitively, riding a pony at the Royal Adelaide Show in the children's class.

Gillian Rolton left Woodlands after being told to cut her fingernails in Year 10, and completed her schooling at Marion High School.

Gillian Rolton deferred her teaching course for a year, and in 1975 made her way via the United States, to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, where she studied at Grant MacEwan Community College.

Gillian Rolton began competing internationally in 1984, and participated in trials for the Australian team for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, but Saville Row was injured, and she missed out.

Gillian Rolton married Greg Rolton, a fellow rider in September 1985.

Gillian Rolton competed at the 1986 FEI World Equestrian Games on a new horse, Benton's Way.

In 1987, Gillian Rolton bought a horse for $2,000 that she named Peppermint Grove after Peppermint Grove in Western Australia.

Gillian Rolton retired Benton's Way after winning the 1988 Australian Championships, and began competing on Peppermint Grove.

Gillian Rolton was the first Australian female to win an equestrian medal.

Gillian Rolton won the Australian championships again in 1995, and was selected for the team at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Gillian Rolton remounted, unaware that she had broken her collarbone and ribs, but found herself unable to use her left arm.

Gillian Rolton now had trouble breathing, as her lung was punctured.

Gillian Rolton was taken to hospital afterwards, but refused painkillers in case she had to ride again the next day.

Gillian Rolton did not have to, but her ride proved an inspiration to her team, which won gold.

Gillian Rolton opened her own riding school, and between 2001 and 2007 she initiated, co-ordinated and coached the Mitsubishi National Young Rider Squad, that helped talented young eventing riders to make the transition to senior level.

Gillian Rolton was a national selector until 2007, when she stood down in order to become an International Federation for Equestrian Sports judge.

Gillian Rolton served on the grand jury at the 2012 London Olympics, and was President of the Grand Jury at the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games.

Gillian Rolton was admitted to hospital in Adelaide in September 2017, and died in there on 18 November 2017.

Gillian Rolton had continued working on it from her hospital bed.

Gillian Rolton was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in the 1993 Australia Day honours "for service to sport as a gold medallist in the equestrian three-day event at the Olympic Games".

Gillian Rolton was inducted into South Australian Sport Hall of Fame in 2010, and in 2016 was elevated to legend status alongside Sir Donald Bradman, Bart Cummings, Barrie Robran, and Victor Richardson.

Gillian Rolton was inducted into the Equestrian Australia Hall of Fame for her service to the sport in 2016.