Zurich, 26. August 2013 – The internationally successful Swiss show jumper and Olympic champion Steve Guerdat, who can today at the age of 31 look back on an impressive career, becomes a new Athlete Ambassador for Right To Play. At the 2012 Olympic Games in London Steve Guerdat won gold in the individual showjumping event for Switzerland on Nino Des Buissonnets – as the only rider with two clear rounds. He became Switzerland's first show jumping gold medalist since 1924 and his lifetime dream came true. Now together with the international organisation Right to Play Guerdat supports disadvantaged children and young people to learn vital life skills and values with play and sport and forster their development, education, health and peace.
Youth, Talent and Style
Riding was his destiny and his dream since being a child. Steve Guerdat, native of Canton Jura who now lives in Herrliberg near Zurich, was born with enthusiasm and devotion to horses and riding. Still a child he dreamed of following in the footsteps of his father Philippe Guerdat, former Swiss Nations Cup rider, twice participant at Olympic games and today Chef d’Equipe of the French show jumpers nation team. Steve started his career in Geneva as a 16-year-old and became one of the youngest professional riders of all time. Spurred on with the major goal of Olympic gold the first successes then came rapidly.
In individual jumping too Steve has already achieved numerous dazzling victories in major competitions (e.g. Geneva, Zurich, Lyon, Rotterdam, Cannes). At the World Top 10 final in Geneva in 2010 he celebrated a further triumph on Jalisca Solier. After his historic Olympic victory in London Guerdat won the highest prize of the Grand Prix world on Nino des Buissonnets in October 2012 in Rio. In November 2012 he lead the FEI world rankings for the first time and in April 2013 in Stockholm finished in 2nd place at the FEI World Cup jumping final as in the previous year.
The young top athlete whose heart beats completely for riding, knows very well that talent alone is not enough to reach top performances. Riding is a long way of patience and hard work, effort, ambition, diligence as well as the gift of not letting yourself be discouraged, are traits that are required of sportsmen and woman every day on the long road to Olympic gold.
“As an International Athlete I have myself experienced the potential that sport and play could carry within. Through sports I had the opportunity to realise my visions and dreams. Right To Play too uses the strength of sport and play to help to build up essential life skills for children. Therefore this organisation has persuaded me to give humanitarian help and development cooperation and I would like to support its work,” says the Swiss showjumper Steve Guerdat.
High-resolution photos and further information about Right To Play Switzerland are available for download at www.rp-press.com.
Constact for media requests
Right To Play Switzerland Medienstelle Right To Play Switzerland
Christine Derungs Richterich & Partner AG
Manager Communication Tanja Müller
cderungs@righttolay.com rtp@richterich-partner.ch
Tel: +41 44 552 04 88 Tel: +41 43 499 50 00
Right To Play is a global organization that uses the transformative power of play to educate and empower children facing adversity. Through playing sports and games, Right To Play helps one million children weekly in more than 20 countries to build essential life skills and better futures, while driving lasting social change. Founded in 2000 by four-time Olympic gold medalist and social entrepreneur Johann Olav Koss, Right To Play is headquartered in Toronto, Canada and has national offices in Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States and regional offices in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. Our programs are facilitated by more than 600 international staff and 13,500 volunteer Coaches.