Artemor, the little ex-racehorse who won Olympic Gold in showjumping

Artemor, the little ex-racehorse who won Olympic Gold in showjumping
Artemor, born in 1969, was by a Thoroughbred stallion Eros and out of an Anglo Arab mare – Artemiza. He was a small horse, 163 cm tall at the withers.

Artemor raced as a 3 year old but wasn't successful and as a result ended up being passed on to showjumping and eventing. He competed in both until 1978 when moved then to the Sopot club Legia Warsaw. From that time until 1984 he was ridden by Polish showjumper Jan Kowalczyk.

Together with Kowalczyk, at the Olympics in Moscow 1980, where the equestrian games were boycotted by most Western nations, they won a gold medal in the individual jumping. At the same Olympics they also received a silver medal in the team jumping with the Polish team.

In December 1984, Artemor was diagnosed with Encephalitis and put to sleep.


About Jan Kowalczyk

Jan Kowalczyk (* December 18, 1941 in Drogomyśl, Polen) is 17 times Polish showjumping champion and Olympic champion from 1980.

Kowalczyk participated in the three Olympic Games; Mexico City 1968, Munich 1972 and Moscow 1980. At Olympics in Moscow, Kowalczyk won a gold medal in the individual jumping on Artemor. At the same Olympics he also received a silver medal in the team jumping with the Polish team.