Three-day eventing great Richard Meade dies at the age of 76
Last Updated: 21/01/15 2:04pm
Former Olympic three-day eventing champion Richard Meade has died at the age of 76, British Eventing announced on Friday.
Meade, who won individual and team gold for Great Britain at the 1972 Munich Olympics four years after landing team gold during the Mexico Olympics, had been suffering from cancer.
He is Britain's most successful Olympic equestrian rider.
Meade's son - Great Britain team rider and 2014 World Equestrian Games silver medallist Harry Meade - said on his website earlier this week that his father had been admitted to hospital on Boxing Day.
Meade, who was born in south Wales, lived at West Littleton near Bath.
Apart from his Olympic successes, Meade was also a member of British teams that won two world titles and three European crowns, being rated the finest eventer of his generation.
In addition to his major championship honours, he won the prestigious Badminton Horse Trials on two occasions and Burghley Horse Trials once.
He also served as president of the British Equestrian Federation and chairman of the British Horse Society. In 1974, he received an OBE.
British Eventing chairman Hugh Thomas said: "Richard, at the height of his powers, towered over the eventing world.
"His results far exceeded the innate ability of many of the horses he rode, and he was at his very best when riding at the major events and championships.
"Then he gave countless time and effort to supporting the sport he loved. His passing really does feel like the end of an era."
And BEF chief executive Andrew Finding added: "Richard's medal record speaks for itself.
"He was one of our country's greatest-ever Olympians, and continued throughout his life to be an outstanding ambassador and sportsman. He cared deeply about the sport and we will miss him dearly."
Meade is survived by his wife Angela and their three children James, Harry, and
