Bruce Davidson (equestrian)

Bruce Davidson
Bruce Davidson and Cruise Lion at the 2009 Rolex Kentucky CCI**** awards ceremony
Personal information
Full nameBruce Oram Davidson
BornDecember 31, 1949 (1949-12-31) (age 74)
Rome, New York, U.S.
Medal record
Equestrian
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1976 Montreal Team eventing
Gold medal – first place 1984 Los Angeles Team eventing
Silver medal – second place 1972 Munich Team eventing
Silver medal – second place 1996 Atlanta Team eventing
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1974 Burghley Team eventing
Gold medal – first place 1974 Burghley Individual eventing
Gold medal – first place 1978 Lexington Individual eventing
Bronze medal – third place 1978 Lexington Team eventing
Bronze medal – third place 1990 Stockholm Individual eventing
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 1975 Mexico City Team eventing
Gold medal – first place 1995 Mar del Plata Individual eventing
Silver medal – second place 1975 Mexico City Individual eventing
Silver medal – second place 1995 Mar del Plata Team eventing

Bruce Oram Davidson (born December 31, 1949, in Rome, New York) is an American equestrian who competes in the sport of eventing. He grew up in a family uninterested in horses, but began to compete in Pony Club events after a family friend introduced him to riding. He began college at Iowa State University, but left in his third year to train full-time with the United States Equestrian Team. In 1974, he married, and his two children were born in 1976 and 1977. His son, Bruce Davidson Jr., has followed in his footsteps to become a top eventing rider.

At 18, Davidson tried out for the United States eventing team and was accepted. He won his first medal as a member of the silver-medal-winning US team at the 1972 Summer Olympics. After that, Davidson went to win gold at the 1976 and 1984 Olympics and silver in 1996, participating unsuccessfully in 1988. He has also competed repeatedly at both the World Equestrian Games and the Pan American Games, winning medals at both, as well as winning repeatedly at the top-level Badminton Horse Trials and Rolex Kentucky Three Day events. In the 1980s and early 1990s, Davidson was a consistently top-level rider on both the American and international eventing scenes. He is also known for his horse breeding and training abilities.