James C. Wofford
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Full name | James Cunningham Wofford | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Junction City, Kansas, U.S. | November 3, 1944||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Died | February 2, 2023 Middleburg, Virginia, U.S. | (aged 78)||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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James Cunningham Wofford (November 3, 1944 – February 2, 2023) was an American
Early life and education
Wofford was born in
Wofford attended
Riding career
Wofford has had a successful riding career, joining the USA Eventing Team in 1965 and remaining a member until 1985. During this time, he trained under Bert de Nemethy and Jack Le Goff.
Wofford competed in the 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games on his famous horse
Wofford's records also include five wins—each on a different horse—at five US National Championships, a team gold medal at the 1967 Pan Am Games,[
Wofford retired as a competitor in 1986. He continued to ride, along with his wife, two daughters, and three grandsons.
Coaching career
Perhaps even more impressive than his riding career is his career as a coach. Wofford began focusing on coaching after his retirement, and has produced riders on nearly every USET Eventing team. He has had at least one student on every US Olympic, World Championship, or Pan Am team since 1978. He was sought after as a clinician.
Notable record of his achievements as a coach include:
- 2004 Athens Olympics: Kimberly Severson and John Williams were both former students. Severson went on to win the individual silver. The team won bronze. Also coached the Canadian team.
- 2003 Pan Am Games, as coach for the silver medal-winning Canadian team.
- 2002 World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain, where he coached the Canadian team. The gold medal US team also had former students Kim Vinoski-Severson, David O'Connor and John Williams.
- 2000 Sydney Olympics, where all four US team members—David O'Connor, Karen O'Connor, Nina Fout and Linden Wiesman—had trained with Wofford. David O’Connor went on to win the individual gold medal, and the team won bronze.
- Wofford was named United States Olympic Committee development coach of the year in 1998 and 1999.
Other involvements
James Wofford has written a number of books, including Gymnastics: Systematic Training for Jumping Horses,[7] and Training the Three-Day Event Horse and Rider, 101 Eventing Tips, and Take a Good Look Around.[8] He has also served on many equestrian committees, including:
- AHSA (now USEF) as president
- USET: the first vice-president
- USCTA (now USEA) secretary
- Member of the FEI Eventing Committee for two terms, including two years as vice-chairman
- He did many clinics all over the US
Wofford has also been inducted into the US Eventing Hall of Fame[2] and the Culver Academies Horsemanship Hall of Fame.
Personal life
The second brother to James, Warren Wofford, remains the only
Wofford's cousin is both a trainer and rider of
Wofford lived on his Fox Covert Farm in
Death
Wofford died on February 2, 2023, at the age of 78.[9]
References
- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Jimmy Wofford". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05.
- ^ a b Staff. "James C. Wofford Hall of Fame Entry". United States Eventing Association. Retrieved January 26, 2010.
- ^ Staff. "1968 Eventing Olympic Results" (PDF). FEI. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 26, 2011. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
- ^ Staff. "1972 Eventing Olympic Results" (PDF). FEI. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 14, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
- ISBN 978-0942257403.
- ^ Staff. "Previous Winners". Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event. Retrieved January 26, 2010.
- ISBN 190066738X.
- ^ "Book results for James C. Wofford". WorldCat. Retrieved January 26, 2010.
- ^ "Remembering James C. Wofford". The Chronicle of the Horse. 2 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.