Andrés Rodríguez (equestrian)

Andres Rodríguez
Andres Rodríguez – Team bronze medal – ODESUR Games 2010
Personal information
Full name	Andres Rodríguez Chepito
Nationality	Venezuela
Discipline	Show jumping
Born	(1984-05-11)11 May 1984 Caracas, Venezuela
Died	4 January 2016(2016-01-04) (aged 31) Wellington, Florida, U.S.
Horse(s)	Darlon van Groenhove, Caballito, Fifty Fifty 111
Medal record Equestrian Representing  Venezuela Pan American Games 2015 Toronto Individual jumping Bolivarian Games 2013 Lima Individual jumping (GP) 2013 Lima Individual jumping (speed) 2013 Lima Team jumping 2013 Lima Individual jumping (acc.) 2005 Bogota Team jumping Central American and Caribbean Games 2010 Mayaguez Team jumping 2010 Mayaguez Individual jumping 2014 Veracruz Team jumping South American Championships 2001 Caracas Individual jumping

Andres Rodríguez (11 May 1984 – 4 January 2016) was a Venezuelan businessman and an international show jumping competitor. He travelled between Caracas, Paris (where he was based during the summer season), and Florida (where he managed a competition horses facility). Rodriguez trained with rider and coach Eddie Macken. His achievements included the team silver medal at the 2005 Bolivarian Games, the team bronze medal at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games, an individual silver medal at the 2015 Pan American Games of Toronto, and subsequent qualification to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Rodriguez entered the world top 50 for the first time in August 2015, and the subsequent series of results enabled him to be world no. 42 in the Longines rankings of October 2015 and no. 2 in the Latin America rankings.

Rodríguez was born in Caracas on 11 May 1984. He studied for a degree in International Business from Lynn University, Florida, and sat on the Board of Directors of Insmart Colombia and Wendy's Venezuela. He spoke Spanish, English, French, and Portuguese fluently.

Rodríguez decided to become a professional rider at the age of 12 and started competing in horse shows. He won the final in the children category in 1996, a competition for young children under 14, then won the silver medal in the junior category in the 2001 South American Championships.

Rodríguez trained with Nelson and Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) from 2002 to 2006, in Belgium where the Pessoa family was based. This allowed him to compete in Europe. In 2005, he was a member of team Venezuela and helped claimed the team silver medal at the Bolivarian Games in Bogota, Colombia. His finished in eighth position individually.