Laura Kraut & Cedric

Laura Kraut
Jumper

For more than a decade, Laura Kraut has represented the United States internationally in World Cup Finals, Olympic Games and winning Nation’s Cup teams. Most recently she and her equine partner Cedric won the Olympic Trials in Wellington, Florida and went on to win the Show Jumping Team Gold Medal at the 2008 Olympics. Also in 2008 she and her long-time grand prix horse Anthem won the $500,000 Grand Prix of Charlotte. In 2006 she was a member of the silver medal team at the World Equestrian Games, and in 2007 she and Miss Independent were part of the Samsung Super League silver medal-winning team. Kraut was a member of the historic all-woman Olympic show jumping squad at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and the highest placed American at the 2003 World Cup Final. Kraut has led the victory gallop at the world’s most competitive grand prix in Europe, Canada and the United States.

Kraut has long been known for her great sportsmanship in the world of equestrian sports. This was solidified in 2003 when Kraut was named recipient of the United States Olympic Committee’s Jack Kelly Fair Play Award. Established in 1985 to honor the late USOC President John B. (Jack) Kelly Jr., it is presented to an athlete, coach or official for an outstanding act of fair play or sportsmanship during the past year.

Sandra Kelly presented the award that bears the name of her late husband to Kraut during the opening session of the USOC board of directors meeting. Kraut’s experience at the Pan American Games in the Dominican Republic was what prompted the United States Equestrian Team to nominate her for the award.

While in the Dominican Republic as a member of the USET show jumping squad, Kraut’s horse developed a slight injury. Although not serious enough that the animal would fail a veterinary inspection, there was a possibility that its condition could impact the U.S. team’s chance to win the competition. Knowing that the team needed a top performance in order to qualify for the 2004 Olympic Games, Kraut put her team first and stepped aside. Instead of packing her bags and heading home, she decided it was important to stay and support her teammates by finding other ways to contribute. Kraut assumed the role of team assistant. Kraut’s dedication to her team was rewarded when the U.S. won the gold medal and secured a spot in the show jumping event at the Athens Olympic Games.

Kraut has been riding all of her life. Her mother was the first riding teacher for both Kraut and her sister Mary Elizabeth. Years later the sisters still work together towards their dream of finding and training the best show jumpers in the world. Mary Elizabeth manages all aspects of the horses’ lives while Laura trains and competes with them.

Even with many successful partnerships with a variety of horses, for Kraut, the horses are the reason she still loves the sport. “From the time I was seven, I knew this was what I was going to do,” Kraut said of devoting her life to the show jumping. “The challenge is finding a horse and creating a partnership that results in success.”

Known as one of the most consistent and likeable athletes on the international circuit, Kraut also values the time she spends with her son Bobby who has also started riding.

• Part of the 2008 Gold Medal Team at the Beijing Olympics
• Won United States Olympic Committee’s Jack Kelly Fair Play Award
• Highest placed American at 2003 World Cup Final
• Part of all-woman show jumping squad at 2000 Olympics in Sydney