Bill Roycroft
Bill Roycroft is a legend in Australian equestrianism. He competed in five consecutive Olympic Games despite making his debut at the age of 45. As a member of the three-day event team at Rome in 1960 he won Australia’s first equestrian gold medal in dramatic fashion.
James William Roycroft was born north of Melbourne in 1915. As a boy he and schoolmate Laurie Morgan would set up tree branches along bush tracks and race their horses over them.
In the late 1950s Bill Roycroft was one of the best riders in Victoria. He built an equestrian course with jumps and water obstacles near his farm in southwest Victoria and practiced there when he could. With his old school friend Morgan he was selected for the three-day event at the Rome Olympics. On the way to Rome he competed in the prestigious Badminton Three-Day Trials in England and became the first Australian to win there.
At Rome the Australians were well placed on the second day when Roycroft’s mount fell breaking Roycroft’s collarbone, injuring his neck and causing concussion. Roycroft was airlifted to hospital. Australia needed three of its four riders to finish the event and one rider was already out with a lame horse. Since replacement horses were not allowed Bill Roycroft discharged himself from hospital and returned to the arena for the third day’s competition. Roycroft was lifted onto his mount with his arm strapped. Despite the pain he rode a faultless display over 12 jumps to lead Australia to victory.
Bill Roycroft rode at five Olympic games also winning bronze medals in Mexico City and in Montreal. He was the Australian flag-bearer at Mexico City and also participated in the Opening Ceremony at Sydney.