Ian Millar
Encyclopedia
Ian Millar, CM
(born January 6, 1947) is a Canadian show jumping
world champion and Olympic
silver medalist. Due to his longevity and accomplishments, he is often nicknamed "Captain Canada" in his sport. He is tied with Austrian sailor Hubert Raudaschl
for most Olympic appearances (9).
, Nova Scotia
. He operates "Millar Brooke Farms" near the small town of Perth, Ontario
.
Millar is a nine-time winner of the Canadian Show Jumping Championship and has captured six Spruce Meadows
Derbys, having amassed a record $2.2 million in prize earnings there.
With his horse, Big Ben
(1976–1999), Millar won more than 40 Grand Prix titles worldwide and the Show Jumping World Cup
two years in a row. At the Pan American Games
in August 1987, Ian Millar became the second Canadian to win an individual gold medal
. He holds the North American record for Grand Prix and Derby wins. He has been a member of every Canadian Equestrian Team at the Show Jumping World Championships
team since 1972. At the 2008 Summer Olympics
, Millar competed at his ninth games, tying the record set by Hubert Raudaschl
. He has been named to ten straight Olympic teams, but did not compete at the 1980 Summer Olympics
because of the Canadian boycott.
His wife Lynn died of cancer in March 2008.
On 18 August, at the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing, at the age of 61, Millar anchored his team (also including Jill Henselwood
, Eric Lamaze
, and Mac Cone
) to a first-place standing. Riding In Style
, he came through in the clutch with a perfect run to lead the Canadian team into a jump-off for gold with the United States. In the team equestrian gold-medal jump-off, Canada won the silver medal, Millar's first Olympic medal.
Millar continues to win in the Grand Prix ring. He says that his next goal to make the 2012 Summer Olympics
in London, hoping to be joined on the Canadian team by son Jonathan, 36, and daughter Amy, 34.
In 1986 he was made a Member of the Order of Canada
and in 1996 was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(born January 6, 1947) is a Canadian show jumping
Show jumping
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping," "open jumping," or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes commonly are seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics...
world champion and Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
silver medalist. Due to his longevity and accomplishments, he is often nicknamed "Captain Canada" in his sport. He is tied with Austrian sailor Hubert Raudaschl
Hubert Raudaschl
Hubert Raudaschl is an Austrian sailboat manufacturer and former olympic athlete. He has participated in nine Olympic games between 1964 and 1996...
for most Olympic appearances (9).
Biography
Millar was born in HalifaxCity of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. He operates "Millar Brooke Farms" near the small town of Perth, Ontario
Perth, Ontario
Perth is a town in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario, Canada . It is located on the Tay River, 83 km southwest of Ottawa, and is the seat of Lanark County.-History:...
.
Millar is a nine-time winner of the Canadian Show Jumping Championship and has captured six Spruce Meadows
Spruce Meadows
Spruce Meadows is an equestrian facility in Calgary, Alberta built by the Southern Family and opened in 1976. The show jumping complex is in the foothills of the Alberta Rocky Mountains just south of the city and comprises...
Derbys, having amassed a record $2.2 million in prize earnings there.
With his horse, Big Ben
Big Ben (horse)
Big Ben was a world champion show jumping horse.-Birth and Acquisition by Ian Millar:First named "Winston", Big Ben was born at the van Hooydonk Farm in Kalmthout . Although his dam was only 15 hh, Big Ben grew to be a very large horse of 17.3 hands high...
(1976–1999), Millar won more than 40 Grand Prix titles worldwide and the Show Jumping World Cup
Show Jumping World Cup
The FEI World Cup Show Jumping Final, is an annual international competition among the world’s best show jumping horses and riders. The series, created in 1978, today comprises 14 leagues on all continents. The best riders from 132 preliminary competitions qualify for the final. The FEI World Cup...
two years in a row. At the Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
in August 1987, Ian Millar became the second Canadian to win an individual gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
. He holds the North American record for Grand Prix and Derby wins. He has been a member of every Canadian Equestrian Team at the Show Jumping World Championships
Show Jumping World Championships
The Show Jumping World Championships, or the show jumping competition at the FEI World Equestrian Games, was started in 1953, with individual competition. In 1978 Team competitions began, and men and women began competing against one another. From 1990, show jumping was brought together along with...
team since 1972. At the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
, Millar competed at his ninth games, tying the record set by Hubert Raudaschl
Hubert Raudaschl
Hubert Raudaschl is an Austrian sailboat manufacturer and former olympic athlete. He has participated in nine Olympic games between 1964 and 1996...
. He has been named to ten straight Olympic teams, but did not compete at the 1980 Summer Olympics
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
because of the Canadian boycott.
His wife Lynn died of cancer in March 2008.
On 18 August, at the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing, at the age of 61, Millar anchored his team (also including Jill Henselwood
Jill Henselwood
Jill Henselwood is a Canadian show jumper.At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Henselwood won the silver medal as part of the Canadian team in team jumping, together with Mac Cone, Eric Lamaze, and Ian Millar.She currently lives in Oxford Mills, Ontario.Her horse, an Oldenberg gelding named...
, Eric Lamaze
Eric Lamaze
Eric Lamaze is a Canadian show jumper. He and his best known horse, Hickstead, completed the rare feat of only having one rail during the entire Olympic Games.-Early life:...
, and Mac Cone
Mac Cone
Mac Cone is a Canadian show jumper.At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Cone won the silver medal as part of the Canadian team in team jumping, together with Jill Henselwood, Eric Lamaze, and Ian Millar....
) to a first-place standing. Riding In Style
In Style (horse)
In Style is a Holsteiner gelding ridden by Canadian Equestrian Team member Ian Millar in the sport of show jumping. He was imported to Canada from the Netherlands in 2003. His full brother, VDL Atlantic, is also an international show jumper. Furthermore, VDL Atlantic is a Zangersheide-approved...
, he came through in the clutch with a perfect run to lead the Canadian team into a jump-off for gold with the United States. In the team equestrian gold-medal jump-off, Canada won the silver medal, Millar's first Olympic medal.
Millar continues to win in the Grand Prix ring. He says that his next goal to make the 2012 Summer Olympics
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the "London 2012 Olympic Games", are scheduled to take place in London, England, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012...
in London, hoping to be joined on the Canadian team by son Jonathan, 36, and daughter Amy, 34.
In 1986 he was made a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
and in 1996 was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.
External links
- Ian Millar at The Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian Encyclopedia is a source of information on Canada. It is available online, at no cost. The Canadian Encyclopedia is available in both English and French and includes some 14,000 articles in each language on a wide variety of subjects including history, popular culture, events, people,...
- Late-blooming Ian Millar just hitting his stride?