Michael Whitaker

Michael Whitaker (born 17 March 1960) is a British Olympic equestrian rider, who competes in the sport of show jumping.

At the age of 16, he made his debut in international competitions and in 1980 he became the second youngest winner of the Hickstead Derby, at the age of 20.

In December 1980, Whitaker married Belgian show jumper Veronique.

In September 1993 he took over from his brother John as the internationally top-ranked show jumping rider.

They separated in 1997, and later divorced.

In 2009 Whitaker was banned from competition for four months after his stallion Tackeray tested positive for a synthetic hormone altrenogest during a competition in France.

Altrenogest is a female hormone that Whitaker claimed was present in the sample due to a mix up in feed buckets.

Whitaker was found to be negligent for the positive test.

Born and raised on his parents' farm in Yorkshire.

He and his three brothers were taught to ride by their mother Enid, a keen horsewoman.

Michael began riding aged three on a Shetland pony named Hercules.

He married his second wife on 13 August 2013.

They live in Whatton, Nottinghamshire with their children.

He was ranked 5th by the British Showjumping Association in March 2014.

Younger brother of John Whitaker, Michael began competing on ponies at the age of 5.