AUSTRALIAN equestrian great and dual Olympic gold medallist Gillian Rolton has died after a battle with cancer at the age of 61.
Her passing at 3pm on Saturday comes midway through the Adelaide International 3 Day Event of which Rolton has been event director for the past 10 years.
Rolton is one of the most distinguished equestrian riders Australia has ever produced after winning Olympic gold in Barcelona in 1992 and Atlanta in 1996 — both times on her horse Peppermint Grove.
She achieved legendary status in Atlanta when she fell during competition and broke her collarbone and ribs but got up and completed the course to help Australia to back-to-back Olympic gold medals in teams eventing.
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Rolton was diagnosed with endometrial cancer two years ago and doctors later found metastatic cancer in her groin. After chemotherapy they told her there was nothing else they could do and she was admitted to hospital in Adelaide in September.
But she remained positive right to the end, even continuing to work on organising the Adelaide International 3 Day event from her hospital bed.
Living long enough to see this year’s event, which runs from November 16-19 in the city parklands, and to see her dog deliver its litter of puppies were her two final goals.
“It’s been a long term battle with things but you always give yourself goals to work to and that’s what I’m doing,” Rolton told The Advertiser in October.
“You can’t give up, you can’t just roll up in a ball and feel sorry for yourself — you’ve got to keep focused on the positives.
“It’s about surrounding yourself with positive people and having positive goals that keep you going through all of this.”
Rolton was one of eight flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympics and was inducted into the SA Sport Hall of Fame in 2010 — then elevated to legend status alongside Sir Donald Bradman, Bart Cummings, Barrie Robran and Victor Richardson last year.
She remained heavily involved with the sport even after retiring from competition and served on the grand jury at the 2012 London Olympics then head of the grand jury at the 2014 world championships.
reece.homfray@news.com.au