Julie Brougham

Julie Claire Brougham (née D'Ath; 20 May 1954 – 9 December 2021) was a New Zealand equestrian, competing in dressage. She became New Zealand's oldest Olympic competitor when she competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro at age 62.

Biography

Early life and major competitions Brougham was born in 1954 in Palmerston North. Later on, Brougham rode a horse named Vom Feinsten, also called Steiny, who she first met in 2008.

Brougham competed in the individual dressage at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, becoming New Zealand's oldest Olympic competitor at age 62. She was the third-ever New Zealander to compete in dressage at the Olympics. Her score of 68.543 was the best result for any New Zealander at an Olympic grand prix, but was not enough to advance to the next round of competition and she finished 44th.

AthleteHorseEventGrand Prix Grand Prix SpecialGrand Prix FreestyleOverallScoreRankScoreRankTechnicalArtisticScoreRankJulie BroughamVom FeinstenIndividual68.54344did not advance In 2017, Brougham won the grand prix special at the Australian National Championships. In 2018, Brougham won New Zealand's National Dressage Championship, after years of close places. Also in 2018, she competed in the World Equestrian Games, coming 36th. At the time, she was New Zealand's top dressage rider, and also held the Australasian record for grand prix musical freestyle.

Cancer Brougham was diagnosed with abdominal cancer in October 2018. She was hospitalised with complications after the first round of chemotherapy, and had surgeries to remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes and part of her large bowel. She also had a stoma and collection bag put in, which were permanent. Brougham returned to competition equestrian in September 2019 at the Dressage Central Districts championship show in Palmerston North, and won the event.