“Being a US Athlete”: Equestrian Icon Shares Experience With Cross-Sport Athletes Following Training at Olympic Committee Headquarters

It’s always a matter of prestige when you’re associated with a powerhouse nation such as the US and receive laurels in lieu of your contribution. In solidarity with their nation, four promising athletes from the USEF/USDF Emerging Athlete Program seized a valuable opportunity at the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) headquarters in Colorado Springs. Ellanor Boehning, Tiggy Gates, Erin Nichols, and Christian Simonson immersed themselves in a four-day training camp alongside fellow U.S. athletes from diverse sports. These up-and-coming athletes have achieved an impressive list of results in recent years, which is why they were invited to this equestrian training.

When US Equestrian interviewed various athletes, one question stood out: When Christian was asked, ‘What was it like interacting with athletes from other sports?’ His inspirational reply garnered attention.

A versatile equestrian athlete embracing diversity

Christian Simonson, a dynamic and accomplished individual, is deeply passionate about the art of dressage. A diverse array of interests complements his academic excellence, including acquiring his student pilot license at a remarkably young age of 15. Beyond his academic pursuits, Christian’s adventurous spirit finds expression in mountain biking, downhill skiing, and holding an open water PADI scuba certification. Recently granted dual American and Dutch citizenship, Christian sees this as a strategic advantage propelling his international dressage riding career forward.

When asked about his camp experiences, Christian eloquently highlighted the camaraderie among athletes from diverse disciplines. He noted their curiosity about equestrian sports, specifically dressage, expressing gratitude for being treated with equal respect accorded to any other athlete. In his words, he replied, “Interacting with other athletes from various disciplines was a great experience. It made me feel a strong sense of unity with being a U.S. athlete. Many of the trainers and athletes were quite curious about equestrian sports, specifically dressage, but they all treated us just like any other athlete.” However, when other members were asked the same question, their responses were all inspirational.

Diverse Athlete interactions at USOPC

Gates found it truly inspiring to engage with athletes from various sports undergoing training at the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) facilities. Witnessing their remarkable discipline and relentless dedication to achieving success was both fascinating and motivating. Meanwhile, Nichols derived immense enjoyment from conversations with retired athletes who discovered fresh passions post their Olympic journeys, noting that many have transitioned into roles within the USOPC, illustrating a fulfilling post-Olympic career trajectory for these individuals.

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Christian Simonson’s favourite part of the entire training was, as he expressed, “My favorite part of the whole experience was living at the USOPC campus and interacting with other athletes.” He added that talking with trainers and sports players from many different disciplines helped him and made him feel more connected as an American athlete. They shared similar thinking mindsets and workout plans that strengthened their collective purpose.

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