HARRY Charles’ gold medal-winning performance for Britain in last Friday’s team final at the Chateau de Versailles in Paris, made sure he and his father, Peter, became the first father and son pairing to win gold medals since 1948.

Harry noted in the post-competition press conference that it was watching his father win gold in London 2012 at the age of 13 that inspired him to take up show jumping as a career goal.

“Yeah, it was probably that moment, actually, I realised,” he explained. “My dad wanted me to be a golfer, so I was playing a lot of golf and riding a few ponies at the same time. But, I realised I was a lot better at riding a horse than swinging a golf club, and that definitely was probably the most pivotal moment when I was younger.”

Harry was then clear in Monday’s individual qualifier, but withdrew on Tuesday morning before the final, saying Romeo 88 has slightly overreached. “He goes home with a gold medal and in great shape. We did what we came here to do with the team, and he jumped an amazing round yesterday. I would have liked to jump, but hopefully I’ll have a couple more goes at it.”

Reflecting on the week, Harry said it was “the experience of a lifetime. To win an Olympic gold medal is every sports persons dream, and to do it in the manner we did it, being the only team to have three clear rounds was really special.

“I have a lot of people to thank, and we’re going to go home and reflect on it.”

Learning curve

Harry added that the experience in Tokyo, where he also rode Romeo 88, stood to him in Paris. “I definitely would not have been here and been able to win a medal without that experience in Tokyo, so that was a big learning curve.

“It got tough in Tokyo, and not the round we wanted. And then we had to go back in and jump for the team. I had to dig deep a bit and to be honest, I walked the course and really didn’t want to ride. And my dad said, ‘no, you have to do this, this is going to make you’ and he often says that was defining moment in my career. I could have gone in there and crumbled, and actually, we came out with not a bad score in a team final. Since Tokyo, my career took off a little bit.”

Asked how the week was for him on the sidelines, Peter Charles, who rode under the Irish flag from 1992 until 2007 before switching back and winning a gold medal in London 2012, said: “I don’t get too excited or too depressed. The road’s been bumpy, really bumpy the last month. But the horse was in good shape before he fell off and broke the arm, I wasn’t too worried. Did I expect a medal from these guys? Yes. We said the night before, all the lads had to ride it to 100% of their talent and ability, the horses all had to give close to their maximum and that’s exactly what happened.”

The pair were asked about having a party to celebrate the success, to which Peter quickly quipped, “I couldn’t care less about parties!”, before his son added: “There will be a party and dad will be in attendance!”

Harry’s girlfriend, American show jumper Eve Jobs was also in attendance to watch him win gold, as were his sisters, Scarlett and Sienna and mother Tara.

Decorated

Ben Maher joked that they call Harry “Bieber” on the team. “He looks exactly the same,” Maher joked.

“Having won a team gold in London (Triple X) and individual gold in Tokyo (Explosion W), another gold in Paris with Vegas Ballas Batilly makes Maher one of the most decorated Team GB equestrian athletes alongside eventer Richard Meade and dressage rider Charlotte Dujardin. It’s incredible. I didn’t know that statistic, but everyone’s as important as each other, and I just have a lot to thank this team for. It’s a team effort.

“There are so many people that we could thank that aren’t here with us, but these guys on the team… we have a great team spirit.

“I think, in the end, sometimes we have different horses, different things, but we really come together, and we really believe in each other, and for me, personally, that’s what gave us the edge today. Jumping Performance Manager Di Lampard said she was “completely overwhelmed. They were outstanding.

“The lads were ice cool and delivered on the given day.”