Nick Skelton retires: Tributes flood in for Olympic champion

British Showjumping said that Skelton, 59, and his Rio Olympics gold medal-winning ride Big Star will formally retire at the Royal Windsor Horse Show on May 14.

Skelton won Olympic individual gold last August, while at the London Olympics he helped Great Britain to team gold alongside Scott Brash, Ben Maher and Peter Charles at Greenwich Park.

He recovered from a broken neck in 2000, returning to the saddle two years later, before achieving his number one ambition of Olympic individual gold eight months ago.

And David Broome, who won two Olympic bronze medals and three individual world titles during a stellar showjumping career, said: “He was always special.

“His determination to win was always right up there and his attention to detail stood out. He had a brilliant mind for detail and was always so well organised to go and do the job.”

Skelton said: “This sport has given me more than I could have ever hoped over the past 43 years, and it is such a difficult decision to make. But I am not getting any younger and it is nice for the two of us to end on the highest note possible.”