McLain Ward

{{short description|American equestrian}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name = McLain Ward | image = HH Azur, WC Jumping.jpg | caption = Ward riding HH Azur in the 2017 FEI World Cup Jumping Finals | headercolor = lightsteelblue | birth_date = {{birth-date and age|October 17, 1975}} | birth_place = Mount Kisco, New York, U.S. | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Equestrian }} {{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }} {{MedalCompetition | Olympic Games }} center|80px {{MedalGold | 2004 Athens | Team jumping }} {{MedalGold | 2008 Beijing | Team jumping }} {{MedalSilver|2016 Rio de Janeiro|Team jumping}} {{MedalSilver|2020 Tokyo|Team jumping}} {{MedalSilver | 2024 Paris | Team jumping}} {{MedalCompetition|World Championships}} {{MedalGold|2018 Tryon|Team jumping}} {{MedalSilver|2006 Aachen|Team jumping}} {{MedalBronze|2014 Normandy|Team jumping}} {{MedalCompetition|World Cup}} {{MedalGold|2017 Omaha|Individual jumping}} {{MedalCompetition | Pan American Games }} {{MedalGold|2011 Guadalajara|Team jumping}} {{MedalGold | 2015 Toronto | Individual jumping }} {{MedalGold|2023 Santiago|Team jumping}} {{MedalBronze | 2015 Toronto | Team jumping }} {{MedalBronze|2023 Santiago|Individual jumping}} | show-medals = yes }}

'''McLain Ward''' (born October 17, 1975) is an American show jumping competitor and five-time Olympic medalist.

At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Ward won the team jumping gold medal for the United States, together with Peter Wylde, Beezie Madden, and Chris Kappler.<ref name=db-olymp-2004EQU>[http://www.databaseolympics.com/games/gamessport.htm?g=26&sp=EQU "2004 Summer Olympics – Athens, Greece – Equestrian"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080629081633/http://www.databaseolympics.com/games/gamessport.htm?g=26&sp=EQU |date=2008-06-29 }} – ''databaseOlympics.com'' (Retrieved on April 27, 2008)</ref> He again won team jumping gold at the 2008 Olympic Games, riding Sapphire alongside teammates Laura Kraut, Beezie Madden and Will Simpson. At the 2016 Summer Olympics, Ward won team jumping silver for the United States.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.teamusa.org/us-equestrian/athletes/McLain-Ward|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707213303/http://www.teamusa.org/us-equestrian/athletes/McLain-Ward|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 7, 2015|title=McLain Ward|work=Team USA|access-date=2018-10-05|language=en}}</ref>

==Early life== Ward was born in Mount Kisco, New York to Barney Ward and Kristine Lindsey. His hometown is Brewster, New York. He graduated from Greenwich Country Day School in 1993.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.teamusa.org/us-equestrian/athletes/McLain-Ward|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707213303/http://www.teamusa.org/us-equestrian/athletes/McLain-Ward|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 7, 2015|title=McLain Ward|work=Team USA|access-date=2018-10-05|language=en}}</ref> His parents were professionals in the horse industry and encouraged him to ride. His father was his main business partner for much of his life. In 1990, at age 14, he became the youngest rider to win the United States Equestrian Federation's Show Jumping Derby. Later that year, he became the youngest rider to win the USET Medal Finals and became the first and youngest rider to win both titles in the same year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mclainward.com/#mclains-bio|title=Home|website=Mclain Ward Inc.|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-05}}</ref>

==Career== Ward won the Hampton Classic Grand Prix aboard his Selle Francais bay gelding, Twist Du Valon, in 1998 and 1999. They were the first rider-horse combination to win the Classic's Grand Prix back-to-back two years in a row. Ward became the youngest rider ever to reach the $1 million prize money mark in grand prix competition in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://easthamptonstar.com/Archive/1/McLain-Ward-Twist-Du-Valon-Makes-Classic-History|title=McLain Ward, On Twist Du Valon, Makes Classic History {{!}} The East Hampton Star|website=easthamptonstar.com|language=en|access-date=2018-10-05|archive-date=October 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005194955/http://easthamptonstar.com/Archive/1/McLain-Ward-Twist-Du-Valon-Makes-Classic-History|url-status=dead}}</ref>

At the 2004 Olympic Games, Ward won the team jumping gold representing the United States.

Ward rode with a broken collarbone in the 2005 Samsung Super League when the United States team won the Championship.<ref>{{cite book |last=Papows |first=Jeff |title=Unbridled Passion: Show Jumpings Greatest Horses and Riders |year=2011 |publisher=Acanthus Publishing |url=http://www.unbridledpassion.net |access-date=2020-03-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126005648/http://www.unbridledpassion.net/ |archive-date=2012-01-26 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Ward found himself at the center of controversy at the 2010 World Cup Final in Geneva, Switzerland. His mount, Sapphire, was eliminated after the second round of jumping due to hypersensitivity in her left forelimb. Sapphire was second in both rounds prior to elimination, and was at the top of the overall standings at the time of the disqualification. McLain challenged the ruling to the FEI.<ref>[http://www.fei.org/disciplines/jumping/press-releases/mclain-ward%E2%80%99s-world-cup%E2%84%A2-horse-disqualified-final McLain Ward's World Cup horse disqualified from Final] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726055157/http://www.fei.org/disciplines/jumping/press-releases/mclain-ward%E2%80%99s-world-cup%E2%84%A2-horse-disqualified-final |date=July 26, 2011 }}, announcement of the International Federation of Equestrian Sports(FEI)</ref> In July 2010, the FEI and McLain Ward agreed, to avoid extensive litigation, that Sapphire was incorrectly eliminated. However, Sapphire's disqualification from the final round of the World Cup remained in place. The FEI also decided to develop mandatory guidelines for hypersensitivity tests.<ref>http://www.fei.org: [http://www.fei.org/fei-tribunal/press-releases/fei-resolves-legal-dispute-over-world-cup-disqualification FEI resolves legal dispute over World Cup disqualification] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725133144/http://www.fei.org/fei-tribunal/press-releases/fei-resolves-legal-dispute-over-world-cup-disqualification |date=2010-07-25 }}, July 2, 2010</ref><ref>http://www.st-georg.de: [http://www.st-georg.de/news/detail.php?objectID=7865&class=6 Der Fall McLain Ward und Sapphire: Die FEI knickt ein] (german; "The case of McLain Ward and Sapphire: The FEI cave in"), July 3, 2010</ref>

In 2010, Ward was featured in the television series ''A Rider's Story''<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100806005015/http://www.equestrianlife.com/videos/watch/992/A_Riders_Story_-_McLain_Ward_and_Laura_Kraut www.equestrianlife.com]</ref> along with fellow Olympian Laura Kraut.

On the evening of January 14, 2012, when Ward was riding Oh d'Eole in the $30,000 Surpass Grand Prix, Ward suffered an injury, hitting his kneecap on a jump standard. Ward was to heal for eight weeks.<ref>[http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/updated-mclain-ward-breaks-leg-fall Sorge, M. (2012, January 12). Updated: McLain Ward Breaks Leg In Fall.] Retrieved December 5, 2012</ref>

Ward's horse Sapphire was retired May 14, 2012 at the Devon Horse Show. That night, Ward won the $100,000 Wells Fargo Grand Prix of Devon.<ref>Network, U. (n.d.). Mclain Ward. Retrieved December 7, 2012, from USEF Network website: {{cite web |url=http://usefnetwork.com/athletes/82/mclain_ward.aspx |title=McLain Ward - USEF Network |access-date=2012-12-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104115758/http://www.usefnetwork.com/athletes/82/mclain_ward.aspx |archive-date=2012-01-04 }}</ref><ref>Tie, B., Inc. (2012, May 15). Show jumping superstar Sapphire retired at age 17. Retrieved December 7, 2012, from Horse Channel website: http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-news/2012/05/15/sapphire-retired.aspx</ref> November 28, 2012 Ward won the $10,000 Welcome Stake aboard Ilan Ferder and Missy Clark's Zhum CW, a Dutch Warmblood (KWPN).<ref>Media, J. W., Inc. (2012, November 28). McLain Ward Kicks Off Holiday & Horses With a Win on Zhum CW. Retrieved December 7, 2012, from USEF Network website: http://www.usefnetwork.com/news/9388/2012/11/28/mclain_ward_kicks_off_holiday__hor.aspx</ref>

At the 2012 Olympics in London, Ward rode for the USA Olympic Equestrian team. He placed 29th in Individual Jumping-Final Round A, 24th in Individual Jumping-Third Qualifier, 6th in Team Jumping Final Round 2, 20th in Individual Jumping Second-Qualifier, 7th in Team Jumping Finial Round 1, 1st in Individual Jumping-Final Round, and 5th in Team Jumping-Qualification Round 1.<ref>Olympics, N. (n.d.). Mclain Ward. Retrieved December 12, 2012, from NBC Olympics website: http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=mclain-ward/index.html</ref>

At the 2016 Summer Olympics, Ward again rode for the U.S. Team. His mount was HH Azur, owned by Double H Farms and Francois Mathy. At the time of the Olympics Azur was 10. He earned a team silver medal, and placed 9th individually. He stepped into the role of anchor for the team on the final day of team competition after teammate Beezie Madden's horse suffered an injury. He had near perfect rounds all week, dropping only one rail all week.

In 2017 McLain won the Longines FEI World Cup Championship. It was his 17th appearance at the final. The highest he had placed up till then was 2nd in 2009. He won riding his 2016 Olympic mount HH Azur, an 11 year old mare. He completed the week with no penalties after five rounds of jumping, one rail (four faults) ahead of the second place rider.

In April 2017, McLain Ward was ranked #1 in the Longines FEI world rankings for the first time. He was ranked #1 through June 2017, but in July 2017, Kent Farrington was ranked #1 and McLain Ward was ranked #2 in the world. This was the first time 2 American stood at the top of the Longines FEI world rankings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mclainward.com/#mclains-bio|title=Home|website=Mclain Ward Inc.|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-05}}</ref>

Ward currently has horses of his own, as well as riding for owners such as Double H Farm of Ridgefield, Conn. As of 2018, he is now starting to train. During the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, he taught rider and teammate Adrienne Sternlicht.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.doublehfarm.org/index.php|title=Double H Farm - Wellington, FL - Ridgefield, CT|website=www.doublehfarm.org|access-date=2016-07-24}}</ref>

Recently, Ward has won 5 Grand Prixs at the during the 2020 winter circuit in Wellington, Florida.

==International Championship Results== {{sticky table start}} {| class="wikitable sortable sticky-table-head" style="text-align:center" |+ Results ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Event ! scope="col" | Horse ! scope="col" | Placing ! scope="col" | Notes |- ! scope="row"|1995 |World Cup Final |Orchestre |10th | |- ! scope="row"|1996 |World Cup Final |Omnibus |24th | |- ! scope="row"|1997 |World Cup Final | |38th | |- ! scope="row"|1998 |World Cup Final |Orchestre |39th | |- ! scope="row"|1999 |World Cup Final |Beneton |17th | |- ! scope="row"|2002 |World Cup Final |Viktor |4th | |- ! scope="row"|2003 |World Cup Final |Viktor / Onyx 66 |23rd | |- ! scope="row"|2004 |World Cup Final |Goldika 559 |38th | |- ! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" |2004 | rowspan="2" |Olympic Games | rowspan="2" |Sapphire |{{Gold01}} |Team |- |27th |Individual |- ! scope="row"|2005 |World Cup Final |Sapphire |16th | |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2" | 2006 | rowspan="2" |World Equestrian Games | rowspan="2" | Sapphire |{{Silver02}} |Team |- |7th |Individual |- ! scope="row"|2007 |World Cup Final |Sapphire |8th | |- ! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" |2008 | rowspan="2" |Olympic Games | rowspan="2" |Sapphire |{{Gold01}} |Team |- |5th |Individual |- ! scope="row"|2009 |World Cup Final |Sapphire |{{Silver02}} | |- ! scope="row"|2010 |World Cup Final |Sapphire |30th | |- ! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" |2010 | rowspan="2" |World Equestrian Games | rowspan="2" |Sapphire |10th |Team |- |7th |Individual |- ! scope="row"|2011 |World Cup Final |Antares F / Rothchild |10th | |- ! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" |2011 | rowspan="2" |Pan American Games | rowspan="2" |Nikita F |{{Gold01}} |Team |- |4th |Individual |- ! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" |2012 | rowspan="2" |Olympic Games | rowspan="2" |Antares F |6th |Team |- |29th |Individual |- ! scope="row"|2013 |World Cup Final |Super Trooper De Ness |5th | |- ! scope="row"|2014 |World Cup Final |HH Carlos Z / Rothchild |9th | |- ! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" |2014 | rowspan="2" |World Equestrian Games | rowspan="2" |Rothchild |{{Bronze03}} |Team |- |5th |Individual |- ! scope="row"|2015 |World Cup Final |Rothchild |20th | |- ! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" |2015 | rowspan="2" |Pan American Games | rowspan="2" |Rothchild |{{Bronze03}} |Team |- |{{Gold01}} |Individual |- ! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" |2016 | rowspan="2" |Olympic Games | rowspan="2" |HH Azur |{{Silver02}} |Team |- |9th |Individual |- ! scope="row"|2017 |World Cup Final |HH Azur |{{Gold01}} | |- ! scope="row"|2018 |World Cup Final |HH Azur |4th | |- ! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" |2018 | rowspan="2" |World Equestrian Games | rowspan="2" |Clinta |{{Gold01}} |Team |- |4th |Individual |- ! scope="row"|2021 |2020 Olympic Games |Contagious |{{Silver02}} |Team |- ! scope="row"|2022 |World Cup Final |Contagious |7th | |- ! scope="row"|2022 |World Championships |Contagious | | |- ! scope="row"|2023 |World Cup Final |Callas |23rd (tie) | |- |}{{sticky table end}} {{flatlist|style=margin-left: 8em|1= * EL = Eliminated * RET = Retired * WD = Withdrew }}

==Personal life==

Ward married in October 2008.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.teamusa.org/us-equestrian/athletes/McLain-Ward|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707213303/http://www.teamusa.org/us-equestrian/athletes/McLain-Ward|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 7, 2015|title=McLain Ward|work=Team USA|access-date=2018-10-05|language=en}}</ref> His father, Barney Ward, died in 2012 of cancer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/barney-ward-passes-away|title=Barney Ward Passes Away|website=www.chronofhorse.com|language=en|access-date=2018-10-05}}</ref> His father Barney Ward was involved in the Horse Murders scandal, an insurance fraud scheme that killed horses for insurance money. He served three years in federal prison, and three years probation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barney_Ward|title=Barney Ward }}</ref>{{Circular reference|date=April 2022}} Ward has two daughters: Lilly who was born in February 2015 and Madison born in February 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/mclain-and-lauren-ward-welcome-baby-girl|title=McLain And Lauren Ward Welcome Baby Girl|website=www.chronofhorse.com|language=en|access-date=2018-10-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=A daughter for Lauren and McLain Ward {{!}} World of Showjumping|url=https://www.worldofshowjumping.com/en/News/A-daughter-for-Lauren-and-McLain-Ward.html|last=Showjumping|first=www worldofshowjumping com, World of|website=www.worldofshowjumping.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-26}}</ref> His hobbies include golf and basketball.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.teamusa.org/us-equestrian/athletes/McLain-Ward|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707213303/http://www.teamusa.org/us-equestrian/athletes/McLain-Ward|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 7, 2015|title=McLain Ward|work=Team USA|access-date=2018-10-05|language=en}}</ref>

==References== {{Commons category}} * {{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/wa/mclain-ward-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418000926/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/wa/mclain-ward-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2020-04-18}} {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{official website|https://www.mclainward.com/}} * {{Sports links|properties=-P4063,-P13540}} * {{Team USA|new_id=mclain-ward|old_id=WA/Mclain-Ward|archive=20220712014856}} * [https://www.usef.org/team-usa/athletes/mclain_ward McLain Ward] at US Equestrian

{{Olympic champions – Equestrian team jumping}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ward, Mclain}} Category:1975 births Category:Living people Category:American male equestrians Category:Equestrians at the 2004 Summer Olympics Category:Equestrians at the 2008 Summer Olympics Category:Equestrians at the 2012 Summer Olympics Category:Equestrians at the 2016 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in equestrian Category:Olympic silver medalists for the United States in equestrian Category:Medalists at the 2004 Summer Olympics Category:Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics Category:Medalists at the 2016 Summer Olympics Category:People from Brewster, New York Category:Equestrians at the 2011 Pan American Games Category:Equestrians at the 2015 Pan American Games Category:Equestrians at the 2023 Pan American Games Category:Medalists at the 2011 Pan American Games Category:Medalists at the 2015 Pan American Games Category:Medalists at the 2023 Pan American Games Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in equestrian Category:Pan American Games bronze medalists for the United States in equestrian Category:Equestrians at the 2020 Summer Olympics Category:Medalists at the 2020 Summer Olympics Category:Sportspeople from New York (state) Category:Equestrians at the 2024 Summer Olympics Category:Medalists at the 2024 Summer Olympics Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:20th-century American sportsmen