David Broome

David Broome
Broome c. 1974
Personal information
Born1 March 1940 (1940-03) (age 86)
Height181 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight76 kg (168 lb)
Sport
SportEquestrianism
Event
Show jumping
Medal record
Representing  Great Britain
Olympic Games
1960 Rome Individual jumping
1968 Mexico Individual jumping
World Championships
1960 Venice Individual jumping
1970 La Baule Individual jumping
1978 Aachen Team jumping
1982 Dublin Team jumping
1990 Stockholm Team jumping
European Championships
1961 Aachen Individual jumping
1967 Rotterdam Individual jumping
1969 Hickstead Individual jumping
1977 Vienna Team jumping
1979 Rotterdam Team jumping
1983 Hickstead Team jumping
1991 La Baule Team jumping

David McPherson Broome CBE (born 1 March 1940) is a retired Welsh show jumping champion. He competed in the 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972 and 1988 Olympics and won individual bronze medals in 1960 on Sunsalve and in 1968 on his best-known horse Mr Softee. In 1960, he was also voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year, and at the 1972 Games served as the Olympic flag bearer for Great Britain.

Broome was born in Cardiff, attended Monmouth School, and still maintains his stables at Mount Ballan Manor, Crick, near Chepstow in Monmouthshire. He held the individual European title in 1961, 1967 and 1969. In 1970, he won the world title and became Western Mail Welsh Sports Personality of the year. He turned professional in 1973, and in 1978 helped the British team to win the world championship. Broome has won the King George V Gold Cup a record six times on six different horses between 1960 and 1991, a record yet to be equalled. He has enjoyed most of his success on Irish Sport Horses and he has said his favourite horse of all was Sportsman. Broome's sister, Liz Edgar, was also a top-class showjumper.

Broome is still active in the administration of the sport. In 2013, he became president of the British Showjumping Association.

Broome was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1970 Birthday Honours, and promoted to Commander of the same order (CBE) in the 1995 Birthday Honours, on both occasions for services to showjumping.