Michel Vaillancourt (born July 26, 1954) is a Canadian show jumper who won an individual silver medal at the 1976 Olympics. He tied for second place with Debbie Johnsey and François Mathy, but won the silver in a jump-off. Vaillancourt finished in fifth place with the Canadian team.[1]

Vaillancourt, Michel
Personal information
Full nameMichel Vaillancourt
Nationality Canada
DisciplineShow jumping
Born (1954-07-26) July 26, 1954 (age 70)
Saint-Félix-de-Valois, Quebec, Canada
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight148 lb (67 kg; 10 st 8 lb)
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1976 Montreal Individual jumping
Pan American Games
Silver medal – second place 1979 San Juan Team jumping
Bronze medal – third place 1975 Mexico City Team jumping

Vaillancourt started training in horse riding aged 12, encouraged by his father, an equestrian coach who died in a horse riding accident in 1971. At his first international competition, Vaillancourt won a team bronze medal at the 1975 Pan American Games. He won a silver team medal at the next Games in 1979. Vaillancourt missed the 1980 Olympics in Moscow that were boycotted by Canada, and competed at the Alternate Olympics, winning a team gold medal. After retiring from competitions he worked as a course designer and coach, supervising the Canadian equestrian team at the 1994 and 1998 Olympics. He was inducted into the Jump Canada Hall of Fame in 2009.[1][2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Michel Vaillancourt. Sports Reference
  2. ^ Rider – Michel Vaillancourt. equinecanada.ca