Ian Millar,
CM (born 6 January 1947) is a
Canadian Equestrian Team
The Canadian Equestrian Team or CET (french: Équipe équestre canadienne or ''EEC'') collectively describes the athletes that represent Canada at the highest levels of international equestrian competition, specifically at the World Championship, ...
athlete for
show jumping
Show jumping is a part of a group of English riding equestrianism, equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, Show hunter, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes are commonly seen at horse shows throughout the world, including th ...
. He is a two-time winner of the
Show Jumping World Cup The FEI Show Jumping World Cup 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 competiti ...
, and an
Olympic
Olympic or Olympics may refer to
Sports
Competitions
* Olympic Games, international multi-sport event held since 1896
** Summer Olympic Games
** Winter Olympic Games
* Ancient Olympic Games, ancient multi-sport event held in Olympia, Greece b ...
silver medalist. Due to his longevity and accomplishments, he is often nicknamed "Captain Canada" in his sport.
He holds the record for
most Olympic appearances by any athlete in any sport (10). A member of Canada's
2012 Olympic Games
The 2012 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad and also known as London 2012) was an international multi-sport event held from 27 July to 12 August 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. The first event, the ...
team, he broke the record when he took part in his tenth Games in London 2012.
Biography
Millar was born in
Halifax,
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland".
Most of the population are native Eng ...
. He operates "Millar Brooke Farm" near the small town of
Perth, Ontario
Perth is a town in Eastern Ontario, Canada. It is located on the Tay River, southwest of Ottawa, and is the seat of Lanark County.
History
The town was established as a military settlement in 1816, shortly after the War of 1812. The settlement ...
, alongside his children Jonathon Millar and
Amy Millar
Amy Millar (born 14 February 1977) is a Canadian equestrian who competes in the sport of show jumping.
Following a successful junior career, Amy quickly enjoyed success at the Grand Prix level. She made her Nations Cup debut for Canada in 2000 ...
, and daughter-in-law Kelly Soleau-Millar.
In 1986 he was made a Member of the
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit.
To coincide with the ...
, and in 1996 was inducted into the
Canadian Sports Hall of Fame
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame (french: Panthéon des sports canadiens; sometimes referred to as the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame) is a Canadian sports hall of fame and museum in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Dedicated to the history of sports in Canada, ...
. In 2013, he was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.
He has a degree in business administration from
Algonquin College
Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology is a publicly funded English-language college located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The college serves the National Capital Region and the outlying areas of Eastern Ontario, Western Quebec, and Upst ...
, and received an honorary doctorate from the
University of Guelph
, mottoeng = "to learn the reasons of realities"
, established = May 8, 1964 ()As constituents: OAC: (1874) Macdonald Institute: (1903) OVC: (1922)
, type = Public university
, chancellor ...
.
His wife Lynn died of cancer in March 2008.
Equestrian career
Millar is a twelve-time winner of the Canadian Show Jumping Championship. He has been a staple on the Canadian Equestrian Team for decades, and has amassed over $3.5 million in prize earnings at the prestigious
Spruce Meadows
Spruce Meadows is a multi-purpose sports facility near Calgary, Alberta built by the Southern family which opened in 1975.
The facility contains an equestrian show jumping complex that comprises . The current president and CEO of Spruce Me ...
venue in Calgary, Alberta.
With his horse,
Big Ben
Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell of the Great Clock of Westminster, at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, England, and the name is frequently extended to refer also to the clock and the clock tower. The officia ...
(1976–1999), Millar won more than 40
Grand Prix
Grand Prix ( , meaning ''Grand Prize''; plural Grands Prix), is a name sometimes used for competitions or sport events, alluding to the winner receiving a prize, trophy or honour
Grand Prix or grand prix may refer to:
Arts and entertainment ...
titles worldwide and the Show Jumping World Cup two years in a row (1988 & 1989). At the
Pan American Games
The Pan American Games (also known colloquially as the Pan Am Games) is a continental multi-sport event in the Americas featuring summer sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The competition is held ...
in August 1987, Ian Millar became the second Canadian to win an individual
gold medal
A gold medal is a 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.
Since the eighteenth century, gold medals have bee ...
. He now has nine Pan American Games medals, including two individual golds. He holds the North American record for Grand Prix and Derby wins. He was a member of every Canadian Equestrian Team at the Show Jumping World Championships from 1972 to 2014. At the
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad and also known as London 2012) was an international multi-sport event held from 27 July to 12 August 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. The first event, the ...
, Millar competed at his tenth games (his first having been in
1972
Within the context of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) it was the longest year ever, as two leap seconds were added during this 366-day year, an event which has not since been repeated. (If its start and end are defined using Solar time, me ...
, having only missed the
1980 Games due to the US-led boycott against the Soviet Union), breaking the record set by
Hubert Raudaschl
Hubert Raudaschl (; born 26 August 1942 in Sankt Gilgen am Wolfgangsee) is an Austrian sailboat manufacturer and former Olympic athlete. He has participated in nine Olympic games between 1964 and 1996. Raudaschl has competed in the s ...
.
On 18 August, at the
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXIX Olympiad () and also known as Beijing 2008 (), were an international multisport event held from 8 to 24 August 2008, in Beijing, China. A total of 10,942 athletes from 204 Na ...
in Beijing, at the age of 61, Millar anchored his team (also including
Jill Henselwood
Jill Henselwood (born November 1, 1962) is a Canadian Equestrian Team member who competes in show jumping.
At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Henselwood (riding her horse Special Ed) won the silver medal as part of the Canadian team in tea ...
,
Eric Lamaze
Eric Lamaze (born April 17, 1968) is a Canadian retired showjumper and Olympic champion. He won individual gold and team silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, riding his famed horse Hickstead. Lamaze has won three Olympic medals, as well as four ...
, and
Mac Cone) to a first-place standing. Riding ''
In Style'', he completed a faultless round to lead the Canadian team into a jump-off for gold with the United States. Ultimately Canada would finish behind the American team to capture silver – Millar's first Olympic medal.
Millar was named to the 2012 Olympic team, making that appearance, his tenth, a record for any Olympic athlete's appearances at Olympics. In the 2012 Olympics' Individual Jumping event, Millar finished in a three-way tie for ninth aboard his gelding Star Power, the best Canadian result. In Team Jumping, Millar, along with fellow riders
Jill Henselwood
Jill Henselwood (born November 1, 1962) is a Canadian Equestrian Team member who competes in show jumping.
At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Henselwood (riding her horse Special Ed) won the silver medal as part of the Canadian team in tea ...
and
Eric Lamaze
Eric Lamaze (born April 17, 1968) is a Canadian retired showjumper and Olympic champion. He won individual gold and team silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, riding his famed horse Hickstead. Lamaze has won three Olympic medals, as well as four ...
, scored a fifth-place finish for Canada.
On 14 September 2014, Millar won the $1.5-million CP International at Spruce Meadows aboard Dixson, who shares bloodlines with Big Ben. This was the third time he had won the class, having won previously in 1987 and 1991 with Big Ben.
On 23 July 2015, Millar won a gold medal in the Pan American Games team jumping event.
On 1 May 2019, Millar announced his retirement from international competition to re-focus his attention on coaching and developing young horses.
International Championship Results
References
External links
*
*
*
*
*
Athlete profileat
London 2012
The 2012 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad and also known as London 2012) was an international multi-sport event held from 27 July to 12 August 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. The first event, the ...
web site
Ian Millarat
The Canadian Encyclopedia
''The Canadian Encyclopedia'' (TCE; french: L'Encyclopédie canadienne) is the national encyclopedia of Canada, published online by the Toronto-based historical organization Historica Canada, with the support of Canadian Heritage.
Available fo ...
Late-blooming Ian Millar just hitting his stride?Equestrian Sports at The Canadian Encyclopedia*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Millar, Ian
Show jumping riders
Canadian show jumping riders
Canadian male equestrians
Olympic equestrians of Canada
Equestrians at the 1972 Summer Olympics
Equestrians at the 1976 Summer Olympics
Equestrians at the 1984 Summer Olympics
Equestrians at the 1988 Summer Olympics
Equestrians at the 1992 Summer Olympics
Equestrians at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Equestrians at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Equestrians at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Equestrians at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Equestrians at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Equestrians at the 1979 Pan American Games
Equestrians at the 1983 Pan American Games
Equestrians at the 1987 Pan American Games
Equestrians at the 1991 Pan American Games
Equestrians at the 1999 Pan American Games
Equestrians at the 2007 Pan American Games
Equestrians at the 2011 Pan American Games
Equestrians at the 2015 Pan American Games
Members of the Order of Canada
Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Olympic silver medalists for Canada
Olympic medalists in equestrian
Animal sportspeople from Ontario
Sportspeople from Ontario
Sportspeople from Halifax, Nova Scotia
People from Lanark County
Canadian people of Scottish descent
1947 births
Living people
Pan American Games gold medalists for Canada
Pan American Games silver medalists for Canada
Pan American Games bronze medalists for Canada
Pan American Games medalists in equestrian
Medalists at the 1987 Pan American Games
Medalists at the 1991 Pan American Games
Medalists at the 1999 Pan American Games
Medalists at the 2015 Pan American Games