Blyth Tait

Blyth Tait (born 10 May 1961 [The NZOC website has 1941, which is clearly an error.] in Whangarei) is a New Zealand equestrian. Tait has competed at four Olympics and has won four medals, one of only four New Zealanders to do so. [http://www.olympic.org.nz/Athletes/AthleteProfile.aspx?Print=&ContactID=512&id=3774 Biography at New Zealand Olympic Committee website] ]

Tait's first success at international level was at the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, when he won Gold in both the indivual and team events riding "Messiah". At the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona he won Bronze in the individual event after team-mate Vicki Latta knocked down a rail in the showjumping, and Silver in the team event with Latta and Andrew Nicholson (Mark Todd was also in the team but was not awarded a medal as he did not finish the event). At the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta he won Gold in the individual and Bronze in the Team event. Tait repeated his World Championships double Gold effort at Rome in 1998 riding "Ready Teddy". He was flag-bearer for the New Zealand team at the 2000 Olympics but he was eliminated in both the individual and team events. Tait completed his competitive Olympic career with a fifth in the team event at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. He has been named as the eventing manager for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Full Olympic record:
*1992: (on "Messiah")Individaul Individual Bronze; Team Silver
*1996: Individual Gold (on "Ready Teddy"); Team (on "Chesterfield") Bronze
*2000: Individual Did not finish (on "Welton Envoy"); Team Did not finish (on "Ready Teddy")
*2004: (on "Ready Teddy") Individual 18th; Team 5th

Notes and References