Mark Todd Research Paper

Words: 1036
Pages: 5

Mark James Todd
Did you know a dairy farmer, Mark Todd, won a gold medal in Horse Eventing? From being born and raised in New Zealand, to being an Olympic Gold Medalist, Mark Todd lived a fascinating life. Through Mark Todd's early life, to competing in the olympics, to what he was doing now Mark Todd has taught many riders even if there was a mountain in your way there is always a way over it.
On the first of March, 1956, Mark James Todd was born. Mark grew up on a dairy farm with his mother, father, brother, and sister. Mark`s siblings did not enjoy horses, but when Mark was five he got a pony. By the time Mark was six he was in pony club competing at local shows. Mark competed at shows all the way up to college, when he went to college
…show more content…
In this first show in England he was placed tenth after dressage and second after steeplechase, but in cross country, he had to retire on the course because his horse pulled a tendon. Mark won his first big recognized show called Badminton on a horse named Charisma who he later bought. Mark qualified for the Olympics on Charisma; Mark Todd competed for the New Zealand equestrian team. In 1978 Mark Todd was the first Kiwi to win a gold medal. Mark todd`s groom said Mark could ride a cow and still pace in the top ten (Nicholson 1), Mark Todd also took gold on Charisma in 1984 olympics. In 1998 Mark Todd was voted horseman of the year, and Mark had to speak in front of 3,500 equestrians. Mark Todd competed at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, Seoul Olympics in 1988, Barcelona Olympics in 1992, Sydney Olympics in 2000, Beijing Olympics in 2008, London Olympics in 2012 and Rio Olympics in 2016. Mark ended up coming in sixth in the Rio Olympics, in the Sydney Olympics Mark came in third. Over his career Mark ended up winning six medals at the Olympics: two gold medals, One silver medal, and three bronze …show more content…
Mark retired in 2000 and Mark started to manufacture horse products. Mark Todd moved with his family and horses back to New Zealand to try to leave all of the Olympics behind. Mark began doing smaller shows, and training horses Mark also try to get into some sulky racing, also called harness racing. Mark was asked to coach a New Zealand equestrian team.
Mark todd got tired of sitting around, so he made a comeback. On January 25, 2008, the press announced that Mark would be coming back to the Olympics for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Mark won the CCI *** eventing which qualified him for the Olympics. Mark got his eight horses together, and he bought some more then he shipped all of them to Beijing. Mark placed seventeenth overall, but came in second best from New Zealand.
Today Mark Todd still leads a fascinating life. Mark Todd finished competing in the Rio Summer Olympics. Mark placed fourth in the team, and placed thirteenth in the individual competition. Mark Todd Married Carolyn Berry in 1986 but then they divorced in 2009, then later remarried in 2015. Mark Todd had two children Lauren and James, and they were a part of the horse community. I do not see myself competing in the Olympics like my dad, but I sure will compete at some smaller shows(Lauren Todd 1). I do ride horses but i don't think I can ever do what my dad does(James Todd