Bruce Davidson

Bruce Davidson, who attended Iowa State with a goal of becoming a veterinarian, was one of the great American eventers. He won four Olympic medals in team eventing, silver in 1972 and 1996, and gold in 1976 and 1984. At the 1974 World Championships, he became the first American rider to win an individual title, and he also won a gold medal in the team event. He repeated his individual victory at the 1978 Worlds, and over a 24-year span, won three golds and three bronzes at the Worlds. At the Pan-American Games in 1975 he was a member of the winning team and took the silver medal in the individual event, and he returned 20 years later to win the individual gold medal at the 1995 Pan-Ams. He is one of only two Americans to have won the Badminton Horse Trials. He also has a record six wins in the prestigious Rolex Kentucky Three-Day. Davidson competed at the highest international level for over 25 years. He later became a breeder of thoroughbreds.