Hugo Simon

Austrian show jumper Hugo Simon participated in six editions of Olympic Games from 1972-96, missing only the boycotted 1980 Moskva (Moscow) Games. He won one silver medal with the Austrian team in 1992. His best individual results were the unfortunate fourth places in 1972 riding Lavendel and in 1996 riding E.T..

In 1979, Simon won the World Cup final, which he repeated in 1996 and 1997. He also won the 1980 Internationaal Springruiterfestival (International Show Jumping Festival), which was the replacement competition for the boycotted Olympics. Meanwhile the International Equestrian Federation recognised this event as the 1980 World Championship. In 1997, Simon won the silver medal at the European Championships.

Simon was born in Germany and was only used as a substitute for the German team in 1972. He then briefly accepted Austrian citizenship. This was possible because his wife was Austrian and he himself was born on the territory of the former Austria-Hungary.

Simon was considered as one of the world’s best show jumpers ever and was regarded as the oldest winner of a show jumping Grand Prix in 2011. He ran his own tournament and sales stable in Weisenheim am Sand. In addition to tournament sports, he worked as a real estate agent.