Olympic Champion Nick Skelton has been nominated in the category 'Best Athlete' at the FEI Awards 2016. 

The award is received by a person across all of the equestrian sports that has shown exceptional skill and helped to take the sport to a whole new level. Dressage legend Isabell Werth (GER), eventing rider Astier Nicolas (FRA) and Paralympic dressage rider Sophie Christiansen (GBR) are the three other nominees. 

In the nomination text for Skelton, the FEI writes: 

"Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few decades, you'll surely have heard of this Jumping legend. The 58 years old began riding at 18 months old - yes, 18 months - and began his meteoric rise to success by winning 2 team silvers and an individual gold at the FEI European Championships for juniors back in 1975.

He has gone on to win a slew of awards, including Olympic golds at the past 2 Games, and currently holds the British Showjumping High Jump record."

Skelton's long-time groom Mark Beever is also nominated in the 'Best Groom'-category.

The winners will be crowned on the FEI Awards Gala on Tuesday November 22.

Source: FEI.org // Picture © Jenny Abrahamsson