History of Charlotte Dujardin in Timeline
Charlotte Dujardin is a British dressage rider who has achieved significant success in her field. She is considered a dominant figure in dressage, having held all possible individual elite titles simultaneously, a feat never achieved before. Her accomplishments include Olympic, World, and European championship wins in various dressage disciplines.
February 2007: Career Beginnings and Move to Gloucestershire
In February 2007, Charlotte Dujardin began receiving coaching from Carl Hester, a prominent figure in dressage. Recognizing her potential, Hester offered Dujardin a job as a groom at his yard in Newent, Gloucestershire, where she continued to develop her skills.
2011: Partnership with Valegro and International Breakthrough
In 2011, Dujardin's career reached new heights when she was entrusted with the novice Dutch Warmblood gelding, Valegro. The pair quickly made their mark, winning gold at the European Dressage Championship in Rotterdam and setting a new world record at the FEI World Cup Grand Prix in London Olympia.
April 2012: World Record at London Olympia
In April 2012, Dujardin and Valegro set a new world record for the Olympic Grand Prix special discipline with a remarkable score of 88.022% at the FEI World Cup Grand Prix in London Olympia.
August 2012: Olympic Glory in London
The 2012 Summer Olympics in London marked a pinnacle in Dujardin and Valegro's career. The pair contributed to the British team's gold medal win in the team dressage event, setting a new Olympic record in the process. Their exceptional performance culminated in individual gold for Dujardin and Valegro, solidifying their place in Olympic history.
December 2012: Victory at the World Cup Freestyle Event
Dujardin and Valegro continued their winning streak in December 2012, securing victory at the World Cup freestyle event held at Olympia with an impressive score of 87.875%.
2013: Appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire
In recognition of her outstanding contributions to equestrianism, Charlotte Dujardin was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours.
April 2015: Unprecedented Fourth Consecutive World Title
In a historic achievement, Dujardin and Valegro clinched their fourth consecutive FEI World Cup title in April 2015 in Las Vegas, solidifying their status as the only competition pair to achieve this feat.
December 2016: Valegro's Retirement
In December 2016, Dujardin made the decision to retire Valegro at the age of 14. The emotional farewell took place at the Olympia London International Horse Show, where Valegro delivered his final performance to a heartfelt tribute. This marked the end of an era for Dujardin and Valegro, leaving behind an unparalleled legacy in the world of dressage.
2016: Double Gold at the Rio Olympics
Dujardin and Valegro continued their reign at the 2016 Rio Olympics, securing double individual gold medals. This victory marked Dujardin as the first British woman to retain an individual Olympic title. The pair's outstanding performance, which included a new Olympic dressage score of 93.857 in the Grand Prix Freestyle, cemented their legacy as one of the greatest dressage partnerships of all time.
2017: Appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Dujardin's exceptional achievements in equestrianism were further recognized in 2017 when she was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the New Year Honours.
2018: Autobiography Release and Television Appearance
In 2018, Dujardin released her autobiography, "The Girl on the Dancing Horse: Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro," sharing her life story and experiences in the world of dressage. The same year, she made a guest appearance on the popular Netflix series "Free Rein," expanding her reach to a wider audience.
2019: Elimination from European Championships
In 2019, Dujardin faced a setback when she was eliminated from the Longines FEI European Championships. The elimination came after blood was discovered on her horse, Mount St John, following her test.
March 2023: Birth of Daughter
Charlotte Dujardin welcomed her first child, a daughter named Isabella Rose, in March 2023.
July 2024: Withdrawal from the 2024 Olympics and Investigation
In July 2024, Dujardin withdrew from competing at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. The decision followed the emergence of a video that appeared to show her engaging in conduct contrary to horse welfare principles, according to the FEI. As a result, she was given a six-month provisional ban from competition while a full investigation was conducted.