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Eric Lamaze

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Eric Lamaze
Personal information
Full nameEric Lamaze
Nationality Canada
DisciplineShow jumping
Born (1968-04-17) April 17, 1968 (age 56)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Equestrian
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2008 Beijing Individual jumping
Silver medal – second place 2008 Beijing Team jumping
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Rio de Janeiro Individual jumping
World Equestrian Games
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Lexington Individual jumping
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 2015 Toronto Team jumping
Silver medal – second place 2007 Rio de Janeiro Team jumping
Bronze medal – third place 1999 Winnipeg Team jumping
Bronze medal – third place 2007 Rio de Janeiro Individual jumping

Eric Lamaze (born April 17, 1968) is a Canadian showjumper and Olympic champion.[1] He won individual gold and team silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, riding Hickstead. Lamaze has won three Olympic medals, as well as four Pan American Games medals and one World Equestrian Games bronze. He is considered one of Canada's best showjumpers. He is currently banned from participating in equestrian activities until 2027.

Early life

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Lamaze was born in Montreal, Quebec.[1][2] He started riding at age twelve and worked in exchange for time in the saddle.[3] He was considered a promising junior rider,[1] and trained under Roger Deslauriers, George Morris, Jay Hayes and Hugh Graham.[2]

Career

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1991–2006

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Lamaze began competing at the grand prix level in 1991[2] or 1992.[3] A year later, he was named to the Canadian equestrian team.[2] His first major competition as a national team member was the 1994 World Equestrian Games.[1]

Lamaze was named to the Canadian team for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, but lost his place and received a four-year suspension after testing positive for cocaine.[4] Arbitrator Ed Ratushny overturned the suspension, although Lamaze had already missed the Atlanta Games when the ruling was delivered.[5]

Lamaze rebuilt his career and ascended the rankings, being again regarded as a key member of the Canadian team for the Sydney Games. However he tested positive for a banned stimulant, which resulted in his removal from the team and facing a lifetime ban.[4] Right afterwards, a despondent Lamaze contemplated suicide and while drunk he smoked a cigarette laced with cocaine. Forty-eight hours later, the test for the banned stimulant was reversed on appeal, however Lamaze then tested positive for cocaine which would also have meant a lifetime ban. Arbitrator Ed Ratushny overturned the cocaine test, but the Canadian Olympic Committee refused to reinstate Lamaze on the Canadian team.[5]

2007–2011: Hickstead years

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In 2007, Lamaze became the first Canadian jumping rider in 20 years to make the top ten in the world rankings. He was also the first North American jumping rider to exceed one million in prize money a year, a third of these earnings the result of winning the CN International Grand Prix at Spruce Meadows.[5] The CN International Grand Prix was Lamaze's first major win with Hickstead.

Lamaze competed in the Beijing Olympics, riding the stallion Hickstead.[6] He was awarded a silver medal after a strong performance in the team event.[7] Lamaze went on to win a gold medal in the individual show jumping event of the 2008 Beijing Olympics at the Shatin Equestrian Venue in Hong Kong as a result of a jump off between himself riding Hickstead and the Swedish rider Rolf-Göran Bengtsson, riding Ninja.[6]

In the January 2009 Rolex World Rankings for show jumping by the International Equestrian Federation, Lamaze was named to the top spot for the first time.[8][9] In October 2009, Lamaze won the €120,000 Equita Masters in Lyon, France, riding Hickstead.[10]

Lamaze returned to first place in the Rolex Rankings for July 2010. In July that year, he had two major wins with Hickstead, at the Aachen World Equestrian Festival[11] and the Spruce Meadows Queen Elizabeth II Cup.

In 2011, Lamaze and Hickstead won the €200,000 Rome Grand Prix, the €200,000 La Baule Grand Prix, the Spruce Meadows Queen Elizabeth II Cup, the €23,000 1.55m in Rotterdam,[12] the $1 million CN International Grand Prix, and the €100,000 Barcelona Grand Prix.[13]

Hickstead died during an event for the FEI Show Jumping World Cup in Verona, Italy. Lamaze was distraught and considered retirement.[14]

2012–2023

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After the death of Hickstead in 2011,[15] Lamaze selected the nine-year-old mare Derly Chin De Muze to ride at the 2012 London Olympics.[16]

In July 2016, he was again named to Canada's Olympic team, serving as the leader following Ian Millar's decision to not compete again. Lamaze rode the Hanoverian mare, Fine Lady 5.[17] As a member of Canada's jumping team, he competed in a climactic jump-off for the bronze medal, which was ultimately won by the German team. Later, he won a bronze medal in the individual jumping event, a single knocked rail preventing him from earning a second gold medal.[18]

In 2017, Lamaze claimed he was diagnosed with brain cancer, which he revealed to the public in 2019.[19] He continued competing for some time, winning a gold medal at the Spruce Meadows Masters tournament in June 2019.[20][21]

In 2021, he was selected for random drug testing at an event in the Netherlands, which he failed to comply.[22] Also that year he announced that he would not seek to be part of the Canadian Olympic team for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, saying that while his health was stable he felt there were too many risks.[23] Lamaze's battle with brain cancer continued, and on March 31, 2022 he announced that he would be retiring from competition in order to focus on his health. He planned to remain as the Canadian showjumping team's chef d'équipe. After announcing his retirement, he said: "I've always said that I will retire under my own terms when the time is right. The situation with my health has forced me to make the decision earlier than I had envisioned, but the silver lining is that I still have the will to win and can contribute to the Canadian team and the sport I love through my new role."[24]

During a lawsuit in 2023, Lamaze testified his brain cancer, a glioblastoma, had shrunk by 2021, which did free him of brain cancer, leaving him only with throat cancer, despite his claims of having brain cancer at the time.[25]

Citing Lamaze's refusal to undertake drug testing and his forgery of medical documents, the FEI banned Lamaze from competition until September 11, 2027.[26][27]

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In 2010, Iron Horse Farm brought a suit against Lamaze for misrepresenting horses he sold to the farm. As the case slowly made its way through the court system, evidence emerged suggesting Lamaze had forged his medical history.

Forgery of Cancer Documents

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In August 2023, it was found that Lamaze had forged medical documents submitted to the Ontario Supreme Court.[28][4][29]

As a result of these findings, Lamaze's lifelong attorney, Tim Danson, stepped down as counsel.

It is alleged that Lamaze's ongoing cancer and alleged treatments during his career were faked by Lamaze in order to delay and avoid several ongoing court cases brought against Lamaze in relation to horse sale disputes.

In order to dismiss this allegation that his cancer and health issues are entirely faked, Lamaze would need to produce reliable medical evidence to prove his claims. Lamaze has publicly declined to do so, stating in an 11 September 2023 article: 

“They want a doctor’s note; have they seen me? People were telling me to go home, every day for years, as I was so sick. People who have never seen me and don’t know, believe what they see online. I’ve always spoken the truth and will continue to.”

Lamaze has said he was unaware of letters and documents submitted to the court and cited issues such as data protection relating to his medical records, and the need to protect people who have treated him.[30]

In a Florida lawsuit from November 2023, the judge ruled that Lamaze's conduct to obfuscate his medical condition was fraudulent and deliberate.[31] Lamaze was found liable for $1.4 million in damages for fraud, breach of contract, and breaking Florida law, related to the purchase and sale of two horses.[32]

After nearly 15 years in the court system, in August 2024, a Canadian court found in support of Iron Horse Farm, who brought suit against Lamaze for misrepresenting horses he later sold to the farm. The court ordered Lamaze to return the money for the horse sales, as well as to cover damages and court costs, totaling $786,000.[33] Iron Horse Farm said they did not expect Lamaze would be in a position to pay back the farm for their damages.[34]

International Championship Results

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Results
Year Event Horse Placing Notes
1994 World Equestrian Games Cagney 7th Team
28th Individual
1995 World Cup Final Cagney 18th
1996 World Cup Final Rio Grande RET
1998 World Cup Final Cagney 23rd
1998 World Equestrian Games Cagney 10th Team
53rd Individual
1999 Pan American Games Kahlua 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Team
10th Individual
2002 World Equestrian Games Raphael 10th Team
69th Individual
2003 Pan American Games Rosalinde 5th Team
18th Individual
2005 World Cup Final Tempete v/h Lindehof 16th
2006 World Equestrian Games Hickstead 13th Team
27th Individual
2007 Pan American Games Hickstead 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Team
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Individual
2008 Olympic Games Hickstead 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Team
1st place, gold medalist(s) Individual
2010 World Equestrian Games Hickstead 5th Team
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Individual
2011 World Cup Final Hickstead 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
2011 Pan American Games Coriana van Klapscheut 4th Team
11th Individual
2012 World Cup Final Coriana van Klapscheut 12th
2012 Olympic Games Derly Chin de Muze 5th Team
29th Individual
2014 World Equestrian Games Zigali P S 8th Team
34th Individual
2015 Pan American Games Coco Bongo 1st place, gold medalist(s) Team
22nd Individual
2016 Olympic Games Fine Lady 5 4th Team
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Individual
2018 World Equestrian Games Chacco Kid 10th Team
58th Individual
EL = Eliminated; RET = Retired; WD = Withdrew

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Eric LAMAZE". Olympic Channel. Archived from the original on December 30, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d "Eric Lamaze". Torrey Pines Stable. August 13, 2013. Archived from the original on December 29, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Eric Lamaze". Team Canada - Official Olympic Team Website. August 2, 2019. Archived from the original on August 5, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
  4. ^ a b c "Lamaze Faces FEI Anti-Doping, Tampering Charges Over Alleged Refusal To Drug Test - The Chronicle of the Horse". Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Tom Harrington (July 20, 2008). "Finding faults". CBC Sports. Archived from the original on December 14, 2015. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Roll call of honour: Canada's medal winners". CBC. August 23, 2008. Archived from the original on December 14, 2015. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
  7. ^ Cudmore, John (August 21, 2008). "Last medal winners applaud Beijing jumpers". The Markham Economist and Sun.
  8. ^ Olympic Equestrian Champ Lamaze is Number One for the First Time[dead link] SI.com, January 7, 2009
  9. ^ "Lamaze jumps to the top". The Globe and Mail. January 6, 2009. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  10. ^ "Olympic Champions Eric Lamaze and Hickstead Win in Lyon, France". Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  11. ^ "Hickstead: loss of a true superstar | Horsetalk.co.nz - International horse news". Horsetalk.co.nz. November 6, 2011. Archived from the original on November 13, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
  12. ^ "Dutch Win for Olympic Champions Eric Lamaze and Hickstead". Archived from the original on February 5, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  13. ^ "Eric Lamaze Wins Grand Prix of Barcelona". Archived from the original on March 25, 2012. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  14. ^ "Lamaze considering retirement after death of horse". CP24. November 9, 2011. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  15. ^ "Olympic show jumping champion Hickstead dies - ESPN". Espn.go.com. November 6, 2011. Archived from the original on March 11, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
  16. ^ "Eric Lamaze to ride Derly Chin De Muze at Olympics". Horseandhound.co.uk. July 18, 2012. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
  17. ^ Cleveland, Amy (July 14, 2016). "Eric Lamaze leads Canadian Olympic equestrian team in Ian Millar's absence". www.olympics.cbc.ca/. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on November 7, 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  18. ^ "Eric Lamaze wins bronze in equestrian". CTV News. August 19, 2016. Archived from the original on August 21, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  19. ^ "Olympic show jumping champion Eric Lamaze confirms brain tumour". CBC. May 22, 2019. Archived from the original on December 21, 2019. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  20. ^ "Canada's Eric Lamaze earns gold, silver at Spruce Meadows". CBC. September 7, 2019. Archived from the original on April 26, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  21. ^ Press, The Canadian (June 9, 2019). "Canadian show jumping star Lamaze rides on despite brain tumour - TSN.ca". TSN. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  22. ^ Kirsch, Noah (September 24, 2023). "The Fast Life and Scandalous Downfall of an Olympic Champion". The Daily Beast. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  23. ^ "Olympic champion Eric Lamaze withdraws from Canada's short list for Tokyo". CBC. May 17, 2021. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  24. ^ "'I'm crushed': Olympic show jumping champion Eric Lamaze retires as he battles brain cancer". CBC. March 31, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  25. ^ "New Details Emerge In Eric Lamaze Case As Appeal Filed - The Chronicle of the Horse". Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  26. ^ "FEI Table of Suspensions" (PDF). Fei.org. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  27. ^ Showjumping, www worldofshowjumping com, World of. "FEI suspends Eric Lamaze for four years". www.worldofshowjumping.com. Retrieved August 7, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  28. ^ "Lamaze Submits Forged Medical Documents to Court". Horse Sport. September 6, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  29. ^ "Canadian show-jumper Eric Lamaze suspended by FEI for faking documents". The Calgary Sun. October 11, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  30. ^ Jones, Eleanor (September 11, 2023). "Former Olympic champion Eric Lamaze maintains he's had cancer despite judge's doubts". Horse & Hound. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  31. ^ "New Details Emerge In Eric Lamaze Case As Appeal Filed - The Chronicle of the Horse". Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  32. ^ "Judge Rules Lamaze Owes $1.4M For Fraud - The Chronicle of the Horse". Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  33. ^ "Canadian Olympian Eric Lamaze owes nearly $800K following latest court ruling - National | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  34. ^ "Horse-Dealing Legal Troubles Snowball For Eric Lamaze - The Chronicle of the Horse". Retrieved September 14, 2024.
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