Article

Thomas Gayford

Published Online August 6, 2008

Last Edited March 31, 2016

Thomas Gayford, equestrian (born 21 November 1928 in Toronto, ON). An outstanding international competitor, Tom Gayford was a member of the Canadian jumping team from the late 1940s until the early 1970s; he then became team coach. With James Day and James Elder he formed the gold-medal show-jumping team at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.
1968 Equestrian Team
Riders Jim Day, Jim Elder and Tom Gayford (from left to right), gold medallists in show jumping at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico. (Courtesy Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, www.sportshall.ca)

Thomas Gayford, equestrian (born 21 November 1928 in Toronto, ON). An outstanding international competitor, Tom Gayford was a member of the Canadian jumping team from the late 1940s until the early 1970s; he then became team coach. Tom Gayford first represented Canada at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics in the three-day event and in 1959 helped win the three-day event Pan-American Games gold medal. With James Day and James Elder he formed the gold-medal show-jumping team at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. This team went on to win several international events. Gayford also captained the 1971 champion Pan-American Games team. He was three times individual high-jumping champion at the NY National Horse Show and jumping champion at the National Horse Show (1972). After 1978 Tom Gayford served as chef d'équipe of the national jumping team. In 1976 he designed the Montréal Olympic jumping course.