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Gold: My Autobiography
With a show-jumping career spanning over forty years, Nick Skelton is a legend in the equestrian world. No other rider has won so many major competitions on so many different horses and he is as popular at Olympia and Hickstead as he is at Aachen, Geneva, Paris and Spruce Meadows. Skelton has competed in eight Olympic Games. He was part of the gold medal-winning Great Britain team at London 2012 and made history by winning the individual Olympic gold medal at Rio 2016, riding at the age of fifty-eight his beloved horse Big Star. Nick Skelton began riding at the age of eighteen months on a Welsh pony called Oxo. At the age of seventeenth in 1975, Skelton took team silver and individual gold at the Junior European Championships. He has competed many times at the European Show Jumping Championships, winning numerous medals, both individually and with the British team. In 1980 he competed in the Alternative Olympics, where he helped the British team to a silver medal. He still holds the British Show Jumping High Jump record that he set in 1978. In 2000, Skelton was forced into an early retirement after he broke his neck from a serious fall. But following an amazing recovery he came out of retirement in 2002 to compete again. Now he tells the full story of his eventful life and matchless achievements.
- GenresAutobiographyNonfiction
288 pages, Hardcover
Published December 5, 2017
19 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 29, 2018
So I decided to give this book a read for a few reasons. First, I’ve read his previous bio and was curious to see the comparison (this one is better because it actually has a proper ending). I also witnessed his greatest achievement (spoiler alert) in Rio. Lastly, I’ve had the chance to interview him a couple times and find his story incredible. Longevity, success, comeback and a storybook ending. That said....this book comes up short in a few areas.
This read wasn’t like the cruise down the winding road I was hoping it would be. It was a trip straight down the path with the (often) sharp detour for a few paragraphs. In a nutshell, the style of writing was just too bland - very factual and predictable. I was hoping for more of the “story behind the story”. I knew the results....I wanted to learn more about the people, places and events that created those results.
It was pretty predictable (for me) having known the story. Again, I was looking for something deeper - more layers needed to be peeled back. That said, if you don’t know Nick Skelton’s story, this could be an enjoyable read.
Lastly, I didn’t hear Nick’s voice as often as I would have liked. Some of my favourite sport bios have that special quality where I can hear the person reading their own words. Not this time.
If you’re a fan of the sport....for sure you’d enjoy this book. But for the non-showjumping crew this would be a tougher read.
I liked it....but wanted a lot more from it.
This read wasn’t like the cruise down the winding road I was hoping it would be. It was a trip straight down the path with the (often) sharp detour for a few paragraphs. In a nutshell, the style of writing was just too bland - very factual and predictable. I was hoping for more of the “story behind the story”. I knew the results....I wanted to learn more about the people, places and events that created those results.
It was pretty predictable (for me) having known the story. Again, I was looking for something deeper - more layers needed to be peeled back. That said, if you don’t know Nick Skelton’s story, this could be an enjoyable read.
Lastly, I didn’t hear Nick’s voice as often as I would have liked. Some of my favourite sport bios have that special quality where I can hear the person reading their own words. Not this time.
If you’re a fan of the sport....for sure you’d enjoy this book. But for the non-showjumping crew this would be a tougher read.
I liked it....but wanted a lot more from it.
January 3, 2018
If you're looking for an in depth analysis of the psyche that creates a champion then this is not the book for you. It's an easy read detailing horses, owners, competitions, with only a whiff of the private life of a show jumper. As you may expect it's really down to earth but, for someone not in the horsey field, the ruthlessness of the owners can be quite shocking.
Although he'd never wear it as a badge of honour, you can read into the dedication, life of gruelling hard work and attention to detail that Nick Skelton put into his long career as a showjumper. The travelling is eye watering yet Nick always sounds upbeat and enthusiastic. And at last, he's found a way to deal with the pain of such serious injuries. Yet Nick attributes his success to the horses he rides and the people he works with.
Although he'd never wear it as a badge of honour, you can read into the dedication, life of gruelling hard work and attention to detail that Nick Skelton put into his long career as a showjumper. The travelling is eye watering yet Nick always sounds upbeat and enthusiastic. And at last, he's found a way to deal with the pain of such serious injuries. Yet Nick attributes his success to the horses he rides and the people he works with.
May 16, 2018
I loved this book, it really shows you the highs and lows of showjumping and life. Nick Skelton is an inspiration, I watched both London and Rio and was at the edge of my seat and cried. Well Done Nick and Big Star an amazing equine athlete, one of a kind. Good Luck Dan and Harry. Highly recommended!
February 5, 2019
A decent audible listen for those that enjoy horse rider biographies. I’m a little disappointed in, but not surprised about, the machismo and jackassery of the showjumping set.
June 3, 2022
This book is an excellent autobiography of Nick Skelton, in his own words. He writes with humour and pragmatism, and had a gritty introduction to horses, not being born with a silver spoon in his mouth like some other showjumpers. He worked his way from the bottom to the top, by sheer hard work, and this book will be an inspiration to others starting in the profession.
Of course, things changed greatly over the years for Nick, and he pulls no punches in explaining the business and money transactions which rule the sport, being brutally honest about his relationships with sponsors, owners and business partners. The one thing he doesn't really talk about is the breakdown of his second marriage and his third marriage to US showjumper Laura Kraut, and, if this was to be a no-holds-barred biography, he would have done that. However, there has been enough press speculation and discussion that I'm sure that's part of the reason why he has not done so in this book.
What is really interesting is the progression of showjumping, through Nick's eyes, to the enormous cost and prizes involved in the contemporary sport, such that injuries to horses are now common, and treated with more care, attention and money than most people! They are athletes, and even money-making machines, but Nick does talk about them as characters, with faults, flaws and talents, which is refreshing. His eventual Olympic gold medal was hard won, and this is a book which is, as they say, hard to put down.
Nick is like a modern Harvey Smith - outspoken, tough, and well deserving of his success. Long may it continue through his sons Dan and Harry!
Of course, things changed greatly over the years for Nick, and he pulls no punches in explaining the business and money transactions which rule the sport, being brutally honest about his relationships with sponsors, owners and business partners. The one thing he doesn't really talk about is the breakdown of his second marriage and his third marriage to US showjumper Laura Kraut, and, if this was to be a no-holds-barred biography, he would have done that. However, there has been enough press speculation and discussion that I'm sure that's part of the reason why he has not done so in this book.
What is really interesting is the progression of showjumping, through Nick's eyes, to the enormous cost and prizes involved in the contemporary sport, such that injuries to horses are now common, and treated with more care, attention and money than most people! They are athletes, and even money-making machines, but Nick does talk about them as characters, with faults, flaws and talents, which is refreshing. His eventual Olympic gold medal was hard won, and this is a book which is, as they say, hard to put down.
Nick is like a modern Harvey Smith - outspoken, tough, and well deserving of his success. Long may it continue through his sons Dan and Harry!
June 20, 2018
An easy read, made me cry but also highlighted some sides of an idol I wasn’t expecting, he’s still a champion and legend.
April 4, 2020
This is a wonderful read I would recommend this book to all horse lovers and sports fans. I found myself crying in parts but what a wonderful career he has had.
April 8, 2020
An easy read but as sporting autobiographies go, it’s a little bit dull. Great achievements at the Olympics and should always receive great credit for that.
April 23, 2020
Inspirational
May 23, 2020
Fantastic book. So funny. What a great bloke.
January 4, 2021
I really enjoyed this book I remember most of the horses and riders named in this book. But it wasn’t only that it was about his life also and was so interesting i had a job to put down.
February 10, 2021
It’s a beautiful and inspiring story, and it is real. Winning the gold at the Olympics was just the icing on the book, which is filled with challenges and overcoming for the protagonist.
January 20, 2024
Great read for those of us who have followed his career over the decades - lots of memories came back with the names of riders and horses - loved it!! X
December 5, 2020
Even if I wasn't horsey. I may have liked this book anyway, I love an autobiography. It did however help that I have followed some of Nick Sketon's career since I was a kid. Obviously there's a lot of horse and competition chat as would be expected. But it's little bits in between where you really get into the psyche of a character that's interesting. The northern toughness, the old school hard partying, the subtle- not so subtle sexism. The toughness of the horse world that anyone who's ever been in it will recognise. These were the little things that made up the story, more than how many competitions Nick won. Not totally gripping, but easy enough.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews