Eventer William Fox-Pitt’s 15 year career boasts a string of major titles in domestic and international competitions. He secured a bronze medal at his third Olympic Games this summer and was placed twelfth in the individual competition.

William was destined for a career in equestrianism, with his mother a member of the British three-day event team and his father also completing Badminton and Burghley. Both sisters have represented Britain at junior and young rider level. He started eventing at 15, but it was not until graduating from London University in 1993 that he made the sport his career.

In 1996, William was a member of the British team that finished fifth in Atlanta at his first Olympics. He missed out on selection for Sydney, but went on to win team silver at Athens in 2004.

After having to withdraw his best horse before the cross country at Badminton in 2003, he won the famous trophy in 2004 after a superb performance with Tamarillo. It was the only major UK event to have eluded him following previous wins at Burghley, Blenheim, Bramham and Gatcombe. In 2008 he not only won the HSBC Classics, but he joined Mark Todd and Ginny Elliott in being only the third rider to have won five Burghley titles. He has also won an unprecedented 40 CCI three-day events and 20 CIC one-day events.

At Badminton 2009 William managed two top five placings - he came second with Idalgo and fifth with Macchiato (pictured). His consistent and excellent form continued in 2010 with a win at the Rolex Kentucky, an overall win of the HSBC FEI Classics and a gold medal from the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.

William is married to television racing presenter Alice Plunkett, with whom he lives in Dorset. They have two sons - Oliver and Thomas. William is a board director of the Event Riders Association and has written two books: Schooling for Success and What Will Be.