Mary King (equestrian)

Mary King
Mary King and Imperial Cavalier competing in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London
Personal information
Full name	Mary Elizabeth King
Nationality	British
Discipline	Eventing
Born	(1961-06-08) 8 June 1961 (age 55) Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, England
Medal record Representing  Great Britain Equestrian Olympic Games 2004 Athens Team eventing 2012 London Team eventing 2008 Beijing Team eventing World Championships 1994 The Hague Team eventing 2010 Kentucky Team eventing 2006 Aachen Team eventing European Championships 1991 Punchestown Team eventing 1995 Pratoni del Vivaro Team eventing 1997 Burghley Team eventing 2007 Pratoni del Vivaro Team eventing 2007 Pratoni del Vivaro Individual eventing 1995 Pratoni del Vivaro Individual eventing 2011 Luhmuhlen Team eventing

Mary Elizabeth King MBE (née Thomson, born 8 June 1961) is a British equestrian who competes in eventing. She has represented Great Britain at six Olympics from 1992 to 2012, winning team silver in 2004 and 2012, and team bronze in 2008. At the World Equestrian Games, she won team gold in 1994 and 2010, and team silver in 2006. She has also won four team golds and one team bronze medal at the European Eventing Championships.

King's individual honours include European bronze in 1995 and European Silver in 2007. She is a four-time British Open Champion (1990, 1991, 1996 and 2007). She won the CCI four star Badminton Horse Trials in 1992 and 2000, the CCI four star Burghley Horse Trials in 1996, and the CCI four star Rolex Kentucky with her homebred mare King`s Temptress in 2011.

Mary King was born in Newark-on-Trent on 8 June 1961. Her father, Lieutenant-Commander M D H Thomson was a naval officer who suffered for the rest of his life from the consequences of a motorcycle accident that happened before Mary was born. Latterly he took the position of verger in Salcombe Regis parish church. He died in 2000. Her mother Patricia Gillian (Jill) continues the role of verger at the church. Mary also has an elder brother Simon Francis Bennett Thomson.

She attended Manor House Independent School (Honiton), Kings Grammar School (Ottery St Mary) and Evendine Court School of Domestic Economy (Cordon Bleu) (Malvern).