At the London Games in 2012, Harry Charles, then 13, watched as his father Peter captured the team gold medal in show jumping for Great Britain alongside Ben Maher, Scott Brash and Nick Skelton.
Jumping before an ecstatic home crowd, it was Team GB’s first podium finish since the 1984 Los Angeles Games and a moment that would set the trajectory for young Harry’s life.
“It was probably that moment, actually, I realized [I wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps],” said Harry.
“My dad wanted me to be a golfer, so I was playing a lot golf and riding a few ponies at the same time. But I realized I was a lot better riding a horse than swinging a golf club.“
Just three Olympic cycles later, Harry’s ambition would come to fruition. Riding at the Paris Games, his second Olympic appearance, the now 25-year-old captured his first Olympic medal—team gold. And he did it riding alongside two of the same teammates as his father.
“It’s pretty cool,” continued Harry. “[Scott and Ben are] both my heroes—guys I’ve looked up to since I started riding—and to be on the podium [with them], my inner younger self is freaking out a bit.”
“We call him Bieber on the team,” quipped Maher.
While just 25, Harry is one of the youngest riders competing in Paris. But the current world no. 9 more than earned his place—and he proved it in Paris too, delivering clear rounds in both the team qualifier and the team final. Harry was the only rider on the British team to accomplish the feat.
“That was probably the best round of my life,” he said of Friday’s team final.
“Definitely the biggest moment in my career so far. And to have me be good and Romeo just come through like that—could be the best he’s ever jumped—on this stage and at this moment is really [special].
“It was taken a lot to get to this position and I’m really proud of him.“
A lot indeed. The Olympic Games are the pinnacle of pressure in sport. Harry’s path to Paris hit an extra and unexpected speed bump when he broke his wrist in a fall at Aachen just four weeks ahead of the Games. It was up in the air whether he’d be healed in time for Paris.
While he focused on rehab, his father kept his Olympic mount in fighting form.
“My dad did a great job with Romeo. He was able to school him for me at home and ride him. And so I’m thankful to have someone with that experience and knows him that well. I wouldn’t have been able to [get here] without that,” said Harry, who back in the stirrups on Romeo just 11 days ago.
And the rest is Olympic history. Harry and Peter Charles are the first father-son team to earn Olympic gold medals since rowers Dickie and Charles Burnell in 1948 and 1908.
Peter’s advice? “He said, enjoy every minute of that ceremony—this will probably be the best moment of your life.
“It’s pretty unbelievable,” conceded Harry. “It’s going to take a few days or weeks to sink in. Olympic champion sounds pretty good.”
Jumping continues at the Paris Games on Monday with the Individual Qualifier.