Nicolas Touzaint

Nicolas Touzaint is a French event rider who has been European champion twice and won an Olympic team gold medal.

Nicolas was born on 10 May 1980. He is from a family steeped in equestrianism.

His father Jean-Yves Touzaint and uncle Thierry Touzaint both represented France at the 1976 Olympics and were team gold medallists at the alternative Olympics – put on because most riders boycotted the Olympics in Moscow – in 1980 in Fontainebleau. Thierry is now the French eventing national coach and team manager.

Nicolas Touzaint and Absolut Gold at the 2021 Olympics. Credit: Peter Nixon

What medals has Nicolas won?

Nicolas is a multi-medalled championship rider, with his CV featuring:

One Olympic team gold medal (2004)
One Olympic team silver medal (2024)
One Olympic team bronze medal (2021)
Two European individual gold medals (2003 and 2007)
Four European team silver medals (2003, 2005, 2007 and 2011)
Two European team bronze medals (2013 and 2023)

Has Nicolas Touzaint won at five-star?

Yes. Nicolas is the only French rider to have won Badminton Horse Trials, something he achieved in 2008 riding Hildago De L’lle.

Nicolas Touzaint and Hildago De L’Ile win Badminton 2008. Credit: Phil Mingo

He was also the winner of the first five-star held at Pau Horse Trials on the same horse, in 2007.

What horses is Nicolas known for riding?

Nicolas first stepped into the limelight with the great grey Galan De Sauvagère, with whom he won the European titles at Punchestown, Ireland in 2003 and Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy in 2007. He also took the World Cup Final in Malmö, Sweden in 2006 on him.

The pair also contributed to France’s team gold at the Athens Olympics in 2004, finishing eighth individually. They were among the favourites for the 2008 Olympics, for which the equestrian events were held in Hong Kong, but the rider had to withdraw just before his dressage as Galan had damaged his stifle in a fall in his stable during a thunderstorm.

Hildago De L’Ile won two five-stars for Nicolas, including Badminton 2008, and was his partner at the 2012 Olympics, the 2006 World Equestrian Games and the 2005 Europeans, where France won team silver although Nicolas and Hildago were the discard score.

More recently, Absolut Gold HDC has been Nicolas’s championship partner, winning team bronze at the 2021 Olympics and 2023 Europeans, with top-six finishes individually on both occasions.

In 2024, Nicolas rode Diabolo Menthe at the Paris Olympics, winning team silver.

In all, Nicolas has ridden nine horses at senior championship level, starting with Cobra D’Or, who was his partner at the 1999 young rider European Championships and then on his Olympic debut in Sydney a year later.