Canadian Olympic legend ‘Captain Canada’ is joining the team in a new role on the road to Paris 2024. Equestrian Canada (EC) is pleased to announce Ian Millar, CM as the new Technical Advisor (TA), Jumping for Canada’s national show jumping team.
Well known beyond the equestrian world, Millar of Perth, ON is the most successful competitor in the history of Canadian show jumping. He is the twelve-time Canadian National Champion and has competed in more Olympic Games than any athlete in history.
“Everyone at EC and the Canadian team are feeling proud that Ian has chosen to share his knowledge, passion and experience in a mentorship and development role that will support the team now and into the future,” said EC’s CEO Meg Krueger. “I think not only the athletes, but everyone will benefit from his guidance and infinite interest in making the sport better. And we know he likes to win, too!”
“It has been my great honour to ride for Canada for the better part of 50 years,” said Millar when asked about taking on this role. “This is my opportunity to give back and it is with further honour that I do so.”
A self-professed lifelong learner, he shared how the role is both a culmination of what he brings and what groundwork has been laid before him. “In my time representing Canada, I have known and learned from over a dozen Chefs d’Equipes,” he continued. “Each of them have been great leaders in their own right and I will take that team spirit with me as I embark on this new role.”
“Over his career, Ian has developed a program that consistently produces top results in major competitions using proven principles,” said James Hood EC’s Director, High Performance. “We are grateful to have him guiding our team to be the best they can be. And we are looking forward to having him bring his leadership skills to the TA position.”
“I am very excited for the challenge,” Millar shared. “I know we have some great riders and some great horses, and I am very optimistic that we are going to build a top team for Pan Ams. These games are going to be challenging but they are our big chance to qualify for the Olympics. This is a must do and a can-do thing. Then we’ll build a team for Paris.”
Millar has plenty of Pan American Games experience to share having represented Canada at ten of the continental sporting events spanning five decades where he has won 10 total medals including four gold, four silver, and two bronze. In his last appearance as a rider at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, he took home team gold alongside teammates Yann Candele, Tiffany Foster, and Eric Lamaze.
Of all his accolades, his team wins and experiences are his favourite achievements in the sport. “I’ve won a lot of Grands Prix and individual titles, but nothing is better than winning a Nations Cup alongside three other Canadians.”
“I’ve never had any prouder moments than anchoring a Canadian team,” Millar shared. “Representing our country, that has motivated me from the beginning.” That sentiment is well known by fans and is one of the reasons he has become known as Captain Canada. Everyone in and outside the sport know and feel how much Team Canada means to him – with the emphasis on team.
“A team made up of individuals rarely wins championship titles,” Millar explained his perspective. “It has to be a team; with that feeling and that spirit that every team rider has each other’s back and they all work in a synergistic manner.”
Not surprisingly he felt he could accept this new challenge, because he knows he’s not going into it solo. “This role is impossible to do alone. It takes everyone involved – horses, riders, grooms, owners, EC, the Canadian Olympic Committee, Own the Podium, sponsors, backers, everybody that’s involved – it’s a huge group effort and everyone has to work together to make it happen. I believe that I have the support.”
Beyond the work of building national teams to send to international competitions, EC has additional aspirations for Millar in the role of TA. “Ian has a long-standing interest in NextGen athlete development and is central to several programs already,” said Hood. “With him in this role, we will be able to work on plans for up-and-coming riders and capitalize on Ian’s holistic view of the equestrian sport system to grow it overall. That’s important to the future of our sport.”
“The role of Chef is not just the top tier, it also involves younger riders,” agreed Millar. “I plan to be involved in the sport and work with Dayton Gorsline, the Jumping Youth Development Program Advisor, and with young riders. I want to know where the riders of tomorrow are and want to watch them develop and if I can assist in anyway, I am available.”
With the Pan American Games only eight months away, Millar will be getting to work with the team immediately. Team Canada is happy to have the captain on board and are ready to work alongside him.
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