Eight-time Olympic Equestrian J. Michael Plumb Nominated to U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Presented by Allstate
RELEASE: February 27, 2008
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: By Joanie Morris
Lexington, KY - To say J. Michael Plumb was the stalwart of the U.S. Eventing Team for almost 50 years would be an understatement. He rode in seven consecutive Olympic
Fans can vote for Michael Plumb to be inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. (USEF Archive)
Games - beginning when he was 19 in 1960 in Rome - and eight total (his final appearance was in 1992 in Barcelona). His contribution to the Team’s success is unprecedented and his fearless determination and tenacity never waned.
Now Plumb is one of 18 athletes nominated from all Olympic sports for 2008 induction into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame presented by Allstate. Six of these athletes will be inducted on June 19, 2008 in Chicago, IL.
At the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games Plumb won Team Gold and Individual Silver medals with a very inexperienced horse, adding to the three Team Silver medals already on his shelf, one of which (Tokyo, 1964) was won on a horse he had never ridden in competition before - an unprecedented feat. In 1984, he was the pathfinder for the team in Los Angeles where the U.S. Team was the best again - winning another Team Gold medal. Incredibly reliable and experienced in a team situation, he always seemed to know exactly what was needed to secure medals, making him the ultimate team player.
Plumb’s World Championship record is no less impressive, in 1972 he won Team Gold and Individual Silver medals and then was part of two Bronze medal winning teams in 1978 and 1982. He achieved even more success at the Pan American Games in the 1960’s, winning Individual Gold in 1967 to add to the two Team Gold Medals he won in ’63 and ’67.
Horses like Grasshopper, Better and Better, Laurenson, Plain Sailing, Blue Stone, Good Mixture and Adonis graced Plumb’s stable throughout his tenure at the top of the sport. He was a diligent and meticulous trainer and his horses - regardless of their experience level - were always beautifully prepared for competition.
Plumb, now 67, was named Rider of the Year 10 times by the U.S. Eventing Association and has trained a multitude of horse and riders to the highest level of the sport. He continues to ride and train horses and riders on his farm in Southern Pines, NC.
The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame currently doesn’t have any Equestrian members. 2008 is the year to change that:
Vote for Mike!
The voting period runs through March 28, 2008. The general public can vote at: www.usolympicteam.com or through a link on the USEF website: www.usef.org.
For more information, please contact High Performance Communications Manager, Joanie Morris at: jmorris@usef.org.