Kevin and Chichester at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Photo Credit: Hugo Czerny.
It’s not every day you get to say, “I beat an Olympian.” But here I am, telling you about the time I somehow managed to outdo Kevin Bacon in a bending race. Yes, that Kevin Bacon—three Olympics, countless showjumping victories, and the legendary partnership with Chichester.
Was it skill? Not a chance. This was pure luck, the kind of moment that makes you feel like you’ve won the lottery by picking random numbers. Kevin’s horse was having the day off—not exactly in top form—and decided that knocking over the bending posts was far more entertaining than actually weaving through them. Meanwhile, my pony, against all odds, played it cool.
By the end of the race, there I was, declared the winner, looking around like someone had made a mistake. Kevin? He laughed. He was gracious enough to act like this wasn’t a total fluke. That’s what made him an Olympian—not just the skill, but the class.
To this day, I dine out on that story. “Did you know I once beat Kevin Bacon?” I’ll say, letting the suspense hang for a moment before admitting it was a bending race where his horse knocked over almost every post in sight.
But you know what? A win is a win. And I’ll never forget the smile and good humour of the man I got to “beat.” Thanks, Kevin, for letting me have my moment—even if it was one for the comedy reel.