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{{Short description|German-British dressage rider}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{expand German|topic=bio|date=April 2022|Laura Tomlinson}}
{{MedalTableTop|Laura Bechtolsheimer - Our Greatest Team Parade.jpg|230px}}
{{MedalTableTop|Laura Bechtolsheimer - Our Greatest Team Parade.jpg|230px}}
{{MedalCountry | {{GBR2}} }}
{{MedalCountry | {{GBR2}} }}
{{MedalSport | [[Equestrianism|Equestrian]] – [[Dressage]]}}
{{MedalSport | [[Equestrianism|Equestrian]] – [[Dressage]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Olympic Games]]}}
[[File:Olympic rings.svg|center|80px]]
{{MedalGold|[[2012 Olympic Games]]|[[Equestrian at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Team dressage|Team Dressage]]<br/>(with ''Mistral Højris'')}}
{{MedalGold|[[2012 Olympic Games]]|[[Equestrian at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Team dressage|Team Dressage]]<br/>(with ''Mistral Højris'')}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2012 Olympic Games]]|[[Equestrian at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Individual dressage|Individual Dressage]]<br/>(with Mistral Højris)}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2012 Olympic Games]]|[[Equestrian at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Individual dressage|Individual Dressage]]<br/>(with Mistral Højris)}}
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'''Laura Tomlinson (née Bechtolsheimer)''' [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]] (born 31 January 1985, in [[Mainz]], Germany) is a [[Germans|German]]-born [[United Kingdom|British]] [[dressage]] rider competing at [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] level.<ref name=BDbio>{{Cite web | url = http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/uploads/File/Laura%2520Bechtolsheimer.pdf | format=pdf | publisher = [[British Dressage]] | title = Laura Tomlinson Official Rider Biography| accessdate=8 August 2012}}</ref>
'''Laura Tomlinson''' [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]] (''née'' '''Bechtolsheimer'''; born 31 January 1985, in [[Mainz]], Germany) is a [[Germans in the United Kingdom|German-British]] [[dressage]] rider competing at [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] level.<ref name=BDbio>{{Cite web | url = http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/uploads/File/Laura%2520Bechtolsheimer.pdf| publisher = [[British Dressage]] | title = Laura Tomlinson Official Rider Biography | access-date = 8 August 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120916155015/http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/uploads/File/Laura%20Bechtolsheimer.pdf | archive-date = 16 September 2012 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
As of 30 June 2012 the [[Fédération Équestre Internationale]] (FEI) ranked her 3rd in the world riding [[Mistral Højris]] and 36th on Andretti H.<ref name=rank>{{Cite web | publisher = [[Fédération Équestre Internationale]] | url = http://search.fei.org/Search_Centre/Ranking/Pages/Search.aspx?rankingCode=D_WR | title = Ranking / Standing Search| accessdate = 8 August 2012}}</ref> In that year, Tomlinson, riding Mistral Højris under her maiden name of '''Laura Bechtolsheimer''', won two medals in the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] in London; gold for Great Britain in the team dressage with [[Carl Hester]] and [[Charlotte Dujardin]], the first ever Olympic team gold in the discipline for her country, and bronze in the individual dressage behind gold medalist and compatriot Dujardin.
As of 30 June 2012 the [[Fédération Équestre Internationale]] (FEI) ranked her 3rd in the world riding [[Mistral Højris]] and 36th on Andretti H.<ref name=rank>{{Cite web | publisher = [[Fédération Équestre Internationale]] | url = http://search.fei.org/Search_Centre/Ranking/Pages/Search.aspx?rankingCode=D_WR | title = Ranking / Standing Search | access-date = 8 August 2012 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120319022321/http://search.fei.org/Search_Centre/Ranking/Pages/Search.aspx?rankingCode=D_WR | archive-date = 19 March 2012}}</ref> In that year, Tomlinson, riding Mistral Højris under her maiden name of '''Laura Bechtolsheimer''', won two medals in the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] in London; gold for Great Britain in the team dressage with [[Carl Hester]] and [[Charlotte Dujardin]], the first ever Olympic team gold in the discipline for her country, and bronze in the individual dressage behind gold medalist and compatriot Dujardin.


==Early life==
==Early life==

A granddaughter of the German billionaire property magnate [[Karl-Heinz Kipp]] who founded the Massa chain of department stores, Bechtolsheimer was born in [[Mainz]], Germany in 1985 to [[Germans|German]] parents Wilfried, an entrepreneur and horse trainer, and Ursula.<ref name=BDbio /><ref name=Times080427>{{Cite web | work = [[The Sunday Times]] | title = Rich List &ndash; Dr Wilfried and Ursula Bechtolsheimer and family| url = http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/specials/rich_list/article3796623.ece | date=27 April 2008| accessdate= 8 August 2012}}</ref> She has three brothers, Felix, a singer with rock group [[Hey Negrita]] who battled heroin addiction and now tours prisons helping others, Goetz, and Till.<ref name=Times080427 />
A granddaughter of the German billionaire property magnate [[Karl-Heinz Kipp]] who founded the Massa chain of department stores, Bechtolsheimer was born in [[Mainz]], [[West Germany]] in 1985 to [[Germans|German]] parents Dr Wilfried Bechtolsheimer (who died in 2020), an entrepreneur and horse trainer, and [[Ursula Bechtolsheimer-Kipp]].<ref name=BDbio /><ref name=Times080427>{{Cite web | work = [[The Sunday Times]] | title = Rich List – Dr Wilfried and Ursula Bechtolsheimer and family| url = http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/specials/rich_list/article3796623.ece | date=27 April 2008| access-date= 8 August 2012}}</ref> She has three brothers, Felix, a singer formerly with rock group [[Hey Negrita (band)|Hey Negrita]] and now with [[Curse of Lono]], Goetz, and Till, a businessman and amateur racing driver who competes in the [[2021 IMSA SportsCar Championship]].<ref name=Times080427 /> The family moved to [[Ampney St Peter]] in [[Gloucestershire]] when she was one.
The family moved to [[Ampney St Peter]] in [[Gloucestershire]] when she was one.


==Career==
==Career==
Bechtolsheimer started riding aged three having been given a pony called Peacock for her birthday.&nbsp;<ref name=BDbio /><ref name=Times080427 /> She went on to compete in Pony Club eventing and won the National Championships of Independent Schools at [[Stonar School]] aged 12.<ref name=BDbio /> Bechtolsheimer attended St Marys Calne school in Wiltshire,<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/equestrianism/9411621/London-2012-Olympics-interview-with-dressage-rider-Laura-Bechtolsheimer.html| work = Daily Telegraph | title = London 2012 Olympics: interview with dressage rider Laura Bechtolsheimer | first = Georgia |last = Dehn | accessdate = 4 March 2013 | date = 21 July 2012}}</ref> and started to concentrate on dressage aged 13. She was selected to ride at the Pony European Championship the following season, winning a team silver medal at her first major competition.<ref name=BDbio />


In 2005 Bechtolsheimer became the youngest British dressage champion at age 20, riding Douglas Dorsey.<ref name=BDbio /> She graduated from [[Bristol University]] in 2007 with a [[BSc]] in Philosophy and Politics.<ref name=BDbio /> She competed in the 2008 Olympic Games on Mistral Højris, gaining 18th place in the Individual Grand Prix Special and 6th place in the team event and was named as [[British Dressage]]'s Rider of the Year.<ref name=Olympics>{{Cite web | url =http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/our_teams/british_team | publisher = [[British Dressage]] |accessdate = 8 August 2012 | title = British Team}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.standard.co.uk/olympics/olympic-news/london-2012-olympics-profile-british-dressage-teamcarl-hester-laura-bechtolsheimer-and-charlotte-dujardin-8015464.html | title = London 2012 Olympics Profile: British dressage team...Carl Hester, Laura Bechtolsheimer and Charlotte Dujardin | work = [[London Evening Standard]] | date = 7 August 2012 | accessdate = 8 August 2012}}</ref>
Bechtolsheimer started riding aged three having been given a pony called Peacock for her birthday.&nbsp;<ref name=BDbio /><ref name=Times080427 /> She went on to compete in Pony Club eventing and won the National Championships of Independent Schools at [[Stonar School]] aged 12.<ref name=BDbio /> Bechtolsheimer attended St Marys Calne school in Wiltshire,<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/equestrianism/9411621/London-2012-Olympics-interview-with-dressage-rider-Laura-Bechtolsheimer.html| work = The Daily Telegraph| title = London 2012 Olympics: interview with dressage rider Laura Bechtolsheimer | first = Georgia |last = Dehn | access-date = 4 March 2013 | date = 21 July 2012}}</ref> and started to concentrate on dressage aged 13. She was selected to ride at the Pony European Championship the following season, winning a team silver medal at her first major competition.<ref name=BDbio />


In 2005, Bechtolsheimer became the youngest British dressage champion at age 20, riding Douglas Dorsey.<ref name=BDbio /> She graduated from [[Bristol University]] in 2007 with a [[BSc]] in Philosophy and Politics.<ref name=BDbio /> She competed in the 2008 Olympic Games on Mistral Højris, gaining 18th place in the Individual Grand Prix Special and 6th place in the team event and was named as [[British Dressage]]'s Rider of the Year.<ref name=Olympics>{{Cite web | url =http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/our_teams/british_team | publisher =[[British Dressage]] | access-date =8 August 2012 | title =British Team | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120612131855/http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/our_teams/british_team | archive-date =12 June 2012 | url-status =dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.standard.co.uk/olympics/olympic-news/london-2012-olympics-profile-british-dressage-teamcarl-hester-laura-bechtolsheimer-and-charlotte-dujardin-8015464.html | title = London 2012 Olympics Profile: British dressage team...Carl Hester, Laura Bechtolsheimer and Charlotte Dujardin | work = [[London Evening Standard]] | date = 7 August 2012 | access-date = 8 August 2012}}</ref>
⚫
At the [[2010 FEI World Equestrian Games]] held in [[Kentucky]], [[United States]], Bechtolsheimer surpassed her personal best scores and gained three British International Grand Prix records with Mistral Højris getting 82.511% in the Grand Prix, 81.708% in the Grand Prix Special and 85.350% in the Grand Prix Freestyle, gaining her three silver medals, being beaten only by the celebrated [[Edward Gal]] and [[Totilas]].<ref name=BDbio />


⚫
At the [[2010 FEI World Equestrian Games]] held in [[Kentucky]], United States, Bechtolsheimer surpassed her personal best scores and gained three British International Grand Prix records with Mistral Højris getting 82.511% in the Grand Prix, 81.708% in the Grand Prix Special and 85.350% in the Grand Prix Freestyle, gaining her three silver medals, being beaten only by the celebrated [[Edward Gal]] and [[Totilas]].<ref name=BDbio />
⚫
In 2012 Bechtolsheimer, who scored 80.550%, [[Carl Hester]] and [[Charlotte Dujardin]] won the gold medal in the [[Equestrian at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Team dressage|Olympic team dressage]] event.<ref name=BBC2012gold>{{cite web | title=Olympics equestrian: 20 gold medals for GB with dressage win | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18902771 | publisher=BBC Sport | accessdate=7 August 2012| date= 7 August 2012}}</ref> She went on to win bronze in the [[Equestrian at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Individual dressage|individual]] event with her freestyle routine, set to music from The Lion King.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19206009|title = Dressage: How to make a horse dance|last = |first = |date = 10 August 2012|work = |accessdate = 11 August 2012}}</ref>

⚫
In 2012 Bechtolsheimer, who scored 80.550%, [[Carl Hester]] and [[Charlotte Dujardin]] won the gold medal in the [[Equestrian at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Team dressage|Olympic team dressage]] event.<ref name=BBC2012gold>{{cite web | title=Olympics equestrian: 20 gold medals for GB with dressage win | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18902771 | publisher=BBC Sport | access-date=7 August 2012| date= 7 August 2012}}</ref> She went on to win bronze in the [[Equestrian at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Individual dressage|individual]] event with her freestyle routine, set to music from The Lion King.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19206009|title = Dressage: How to make a horse dance|date = 10 August 2012|access-date = 11 August 2012}}</ref>


In 2016, she rode Rosalie B at the [[Olympia London International Horse Show]]. It was the first outing for the mare on British soil and followed a strong performance at the German CDI Oldenburg, where they won the grand prix special with 75.88%.<ref>Olympic riders spearhead dazzling dressage line-up at Olympia
In 2016, she rode Rosalie B at the [[Olympia London International Horse Show]]. It was the first outing for the mare on British soil and followed a strong performance at the German CDI Oldenburg, where they won the grand prix special with 75.88%.<ref>Olympic riders spearhead dazzling dressage line-up at Olympia
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/olympic-riders-spearhead-dazzling-dressage-line-olympia-606106#A8t7fCXrLRTKj4R5.99</ref>
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/olympic-riders-spearhead-dazzling-dressage-line-olympia-606106#A8t7fCXrLRTKj4R5.99</ref>


She was appointed [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to equestrianism.<ref>{{LondonGazette |issue=60367 |date=29 December 2012 |startpage=24 |supp=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/sites/default/files/resources/NY2013-honours-London-2012.pdf|title= 2013 New Year's Honours|accessdate=29 December 2012}}</ref>
She was appointed [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) in the [[2013 New Year Honours]] for services to equestrianism.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=60367 |date=29 December 2012 |page=24 |supp=y}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/sites/default/files/resources/NY2013-honours-London-2012.pdf|title= 2013 New Year's Honours|access-date=29 December 2012}}</ref>


Outside of her dressage activities, Bechtolsheimer is a presenter for equine video website HorseHero.com and is considering a career in [[public relations]] and [[marketing]].<ref name=BDbio />
Outside of her dressage activities, Bechtolsheimer is a presenter for equine video website HorseHero.com and is considering a career in [[public relations]] and [[marketing]].<ref name=BDbio />

== Notable Horses ==

* '''Douglas Dorsey''' - 1991 Chestnut Hanoverian Gelding (Donnerhall x Salem)
** 2004 European Young Riders Championships - Team Bronze Medal, Individual Fifth Place, Individual Fourth Place Freestyle
** 2006 FEI World Cup Final - 14th Place
** 2006 World Equestrian Games - Team Sixth Place, Individual 21st Place
* '''[[Mistral Højris]]''' - 1995 Chestnut Danish Warmblood Gelding (Michellino x Ibsen)
** 2007 European Championships - Team Fifth Place, Individual 20th Place
** 2008 Beijing Olympics - Team Fifth Place, Individual 17th Place
** 2009 European Championships - Team Silver Medal, Individual Bronze Medal, Individual Fourth Place Freestyle
** 2010 World Equestrian Games - Team Silver Medal, Individual Silver Medal, Individual Silver Medal Freestyle
** 2011 European Championships - Team Gold Medal, Individual Silver Medal, Individual Fourth Place Freestyle
** 2012 London Olympics - Team Gold Medal, Individual Bronze Medal


==Personal life==
==Personal life==

It was announced on 27 August 2012 that Bechtolsheimer was engaged to professional [[polo]] player [[Mark Tomlinson]].<ref>Olympic star Laura Bechtolsheimer to wed http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2194145/Olympic-star-Laura-Bechtolsheimer-wed-Mark-Tomlinson.html</ref> The couple married in the [[Switzerland|Swiss]] resort of [[Arosa]] on 2 March 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2286988/A-chilly-reception-Pregnant-Kate-braves-cold-joins-Wills-Harry-society-couples-gorgeous-Swiss-Alps-wedding.html|title=Society couple's gorgeous Swiss Alps wedding|publisher=[[Daily Mail]]|date=2 March 2013|accessdate=2 March 2013}}</ref> On 17 July 2014 she had their first daughter Annalisa. Her second child is due at the end of March 2017.<ref>‘I’m five months pregnant’ says British Olympic dressage rider
Bechtolsheimer married professional [[polo]] player [[Mark Tomlinson]]. The couple have three children (Annalisa,<ref name=Birth/> Wilfred<ref name=Birth>{{cite web|url=https://eurodressage.com/2017/03/18/laura-tomlinson-gives-birth-second-child|title=Laura Tomlinson Gives Birth to Second Child|work=eurodressage.com|date=18 March 2017}}</ref> and Hanni) and were expecting a fourth as of 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=Olympic British Dressage Rider, Laura Tomlinson Announces Pregnancy |url=https://everythinghorseuk.co.uk/olympic-british-dressage-rider-laura-tomlinson-announces-pregnancy/ |website=Everything Horse |access-date=25 October 2021}}</ref>
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/laura-tomlinson-pregnant-second-child-604799#yvSHtqTy8THUY53t.99 http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/laura-tomlinson-pregnant-second-child-604799</ref>


==See also==
==See also==

* [[2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics gold post boxes]]
* [[2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics gold post boxes]]


==References==
==References==

{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==

* [[Fédération Équestre Internationale]] – Biographies – [http://fei.infostradasports.com/asp/lib/TheASP.asp?pageid=8937&sportid=310&personid=577318 Bechtolsheimer, Laura]
* [[Fédération Équestre Internationale]] – Biographies – [http://fei.infostradasports.com/asp/lib/TheASP.asp?pageid=8937&sportid=310&personid=577318 Bechtolsheimer, Laura]
* [[British Dressage]] – Official Rider Biography – [http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/uploads/File/Laura%2520Bechtolsheimer.pdf Laura Bechtolsheimer]
* [[British Dressage]] – Official Rider Biography – [https://web.archive.org/web/20120916155015/http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/uploads/File/Laura%20Bechtolsheimer.pdf Laura Bechtolsheimer]
* HorseHero – [http://www.horsehero.com/1670 Laura Bechtolsheimer]
* HorseHero – [http://www.horsehero.com/1670 Laura Bechtolsheimer]
* [http://www.laurabechtolsheimer.com/ Laura Tomlinson's web site]
* [http://www.laurabechtolsheimer.com/ Laura Tomlinson's web site]


{{Footer Olympic Champions Equestrian Team Dressage}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions Equestrian Team Dressage}}
{{Authority control}}

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Revision as of 18:52, 17 August 2024

Laura Tomlinson

Medal record
Representing  Great Britain
Equestrian – Dressage
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2012 Olympic Games Team Dressage
(with Mistral Højris)
Bronze medal – third place 2012 Olympic Games Individual Dressage
(with Mistral Højris)
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2010 Kentucky Team – Grand Prix
(with Mistral Højris)
Silver medal – second place 2010 Kentucky Individual – Grand Prix Special
(with Mistral Højris)
Silver medal – second place 2010 Kentucky Individual – Grand Prix Freestyle
(with Mistral Højris)
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2011 Rotterdam Team – Grand Prix
(with Mistral Højris)
Silver medal – second place 2009 Windsor Team – Grand Prix
(with Mistral Højris)
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Windsor Individual – Grand Prix Special
(with Mistral Højris)
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Rotterdam Individual – Grand Prix Special
(with Mistral Højris)

Laura Tomlinson MBE (née Bechtolsheimer; born 31 January 1985, in Mainz, Germany) is a German-British dressage rider competing at Olympic level.[1] As of 30 June 2012 the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) ranked her 3rd in the world riding Mistral Højris and 36th on Andretti H.[2] In that year, Tomlinson, riding Mistral Højris under her maiden name of Laura Bechtolsheimer, won two medals in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London; gold for Great Britain in the team dressage with Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin, the first ever Olympic team gold in the discipline for her country, and bronze in the individual dressage behind gold medalist and compatriot Dujardin.

Early life

A granddaughter of the German billionaire property magnate Karl-Heinz Kipp who founded the Massa chain of department stores, Bechtolsheimer was born in Mainz, West Germany in 1985 to German parents Dr Wilfried Bechtolsheimer (who died in 2020), an entrepreneur and horse trainer, and Ursula Bechtolsheimer-Kipp.[1][3] She has three brothers, Felix, a singer formerly with rock group Hey Negrita and now with Curse of Lono, Goetz, and Till, a businessman and amateur racing driver who competes in the 2021 IMSA SportsCar Championship.[3] The family moved to Ampney St Peter in Gloucestershire when she was one.

Career

Bechtolsheimer started riding aged three having been given a pony called Peacock for her birthday. [1][3] She went on to compete in Pony Club eventing and won the National Championships of Independent Schools at Stonar School aged 12.[1] Bechtolsheimer attended St Marys Calne school in Wiltshire,[4] and started to concentrate on dressage aged 13. She was selected to ride at the Pony European Championship the following season, winning a team silver medal at her first major competition.[1]

In 2005, Bechtolsheimer became the youngest British dressage champion at age 20, riding Douglas Dorsey.[1] She graduated from Bristol University in 2007 with a BSc in Philosophy and Politics.[1] She competed in the 2008 Olympic Games on Mistral Højris, gaining 18th place in the Individual Grand Prix Special and 6th place in the team event and was named as British Dressage's Rider of the Year.[5][6]

At the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games held in Kentucky, United States, Bechtolsheimer surpassed her personal best scores and gained three British International Grand Prix records with Mistral Højris getting 82.511% in the Grand Prix, 81.708% in the Grand Prix Special and 85.350% in the Grand Prix Freestyle, gaining her three silver medals, being beaten only by the celebrated Edward Gal and Totilas.[1]

In 2012 Bechtolsheimer, who scored 80.550%, Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin won the gold medal in the Olympic team dressage event.[7] She went on to win bronze in the individual event with her freestyle routine, set to music from The Lion King.[8]

In 2016, she rode Rosalie B at the Olympia London International Horse Show. It was the first outing for the mare on British soil and followed a strong performance at the German CDI Oldenburg, where they won the grand prix special with 75.88%.[9]

She was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to equestrianism.[10][11]

Outside of her dressage activities, Bechtolsheimer is a presenter for equine video website HorseHero.com and is considering a career in public relations and marketing.[1]

Notable Horses

  • Douglas Dorsey - 1991 Chestnut Hanoverian Gelding (Donnerhall x Salem)
    • 2004 European Young Riders Championships - Team Bronze Medal, Individual Fifth Place, Individual Fourth Place Freestyle
    • 2006 FEI World Cup Final - 14th Place
    • 2006 World Equestrian Games - Team Sixth Place, Individual 21st Place
  • Mistral Højris - 1995 Chestnut Danish Warmblood Gelding (Michellino x Ibsen)
    • 2007 European Championships - Team Fifth Place, Individual 20th Place
    • 2008 Beijing Olympics - Team Fifth Place, Individual 17th Place
    • 2009 European Championships - Team Silver Medal, Individual Bronze Medal, Individual Fourth Place Freestyle
    • 2010 World Equestrian Games - Team Silver Medal, Individual Silver Medal, Individual Silver Medal Freestyle
    • 2011 European Championships - Team Gold Medal, Individual Silver Medal, Individual Fourth Place Freestyle
    • 2012 London Olympics - Team Gold Medal, Individual Bronze Medal

Personal life

Bechtolsheimer married professional polo player Mark Tomlinson. The couple have three children (Annalisa,[12] Wilfred[12] and Hanni) and were expecting a fourth as of 2021.[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Laura Tomlinson Official Rider Biography" (PDF). British Dressage. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 September 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  2. ^ "Ranking / Standing Search". Fédération Équestre Internationale. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  3. ^ a b c "Rich List – Dr Wilfried and Ursula Bechtolsheimer and family". The Sunday Times. 27 April 2008. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  4. ^ Dehn, Georgia (21 July 2012). "London 2012 Olympics: interview with dressage rider Laura Bechtolsheimer". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  5. ^ "British Team". British Dressage. Archived from the original on 12 June 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  6. ^ "London 2012 Olympics Profile: British dressage team...Carl Hester, Laura Bechtolsheimer and Charlotte Dujardin". London Evening Standard. 7 August 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  7. ^ "Olympics equestrian: 20 gold medals for GB with dressage win". BBC Sport. 7 August 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  8. ^ "Dressage: How to make a horse dance". 10 August 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  9. ^ Olympic riders spearhead dazzling dressage line-up at Olympia http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/olympic-riders-spearhead-dazzling-dressage-line-olympia-606106#A8t7fCXrLRTKj4R5.99
  10. ^ "No. 60367". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 2012. p. 24.
  11. ^ "2013 New Year's Honours" (PDF). Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  12. ^ a b "Laura Tomlinson Gives Birth to Second Child". eurodressage.com. 18 March 2017.
  13. ^ "Olympic British Dressage Rider, Laura Tomlinson Announces Pregnancy". Everything Horse. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
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