Kyra Kyrklund and Matador.
© FEI
Kyra Kyrklund becomes first equestrian to enter Hall of Fame for Finnish sports
By Equestrian Life
Six-time Olympian Kyra Kyrklund, 71, has become the first equestrian to enter the Hall of Fame for Finnish sports.
Kyrklund joins Sami Elopuro (squash), Jarkko Nieminen (tennis), Marjo Matikainen-Kallström (skiing), and posthumously Olli Mäki (boxing) in the list of athletes who have been elected to the Hall of Fame of Finnish sports, with the list announced on 8 January.
Kyrklund’s riding career spans 1980 to 2008, and alongside competing at no less than six Olympic Games, she claimed multiple Nordic and Finnish championships in dressage, jumping and eventing; is a six-time FEI Dressage World Cup finalist; and won the FEI World Cup Final with Matador in 1991. Kyrklund and Matador also brought home a silver medal from the 1990 World Equestrian Games, among many other achievements.
Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and Vamos Amigos with Kyra Kyrklund (left) at the 2022 FEI World Championships.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
A hugely popular dressage trainer and advisor, Kyrklund is a team trainer for Portugal (attending Tokyo 2020 as a trainer for the Portuguese marked the 11th Games she has been involved in), part of Sweden’s talent development programme, and coached some of the world’s best, such as Denmark’s Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour.
The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place next Thursday, January 12.
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