Esther Mortimer Declares for Canada

Dressage

Guatemala

Guatemalan dressage rider Esther Mortimer has declared for Canada, following Guatemala's ban by the IOC.

The 44-year old Canadian born Mortimer has dual Canadian/Guatemalan citizenship and lives in Canada. However, she has always competed for Guatemala from the start of her international career in 1994.

Flying the Guatemalan Flag

Esther first represented Guatemala at the 1994 North American Young Riders Championships, followed by the 2002 Copa de las Americas and the 20013, 2011 and 2015 Pan American Games, and the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games.

Key horses in her career have been Viva's Veroverar (by Viva Voltaire x A Fine Romance), Adijo (by Alabaster x Eldorado), and Linosso (by Lauries Crusador xx). She is now competing Sue Schramayr's 10-year old KWPN gelding Hernando (by Bretton Woods x Welt Hit II) at international Grand Prix level.

Esther aims to qualify Hernando or the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago de Chile, where Canada can clinch a team spot for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Guatemala Suspended by IOC

On 15 October 2022 the International Olympic Committee banned Guatemala's Olympic Committee following the country's failure to solve a domestic legal dispute. The NOC has been at odds with the country's Constitutional Court over some provisions in the Olympic body's regulations.

The IOC suspension means Guatemala's athletes cannot represent their country at the Olympic Games and the NOC is blocked from any IOC funding.

Mortimer told Horse Sport, "with this unfortunate situation, Guatemalan athletes will be missing two Olympic cycles, so the timing seemed right to switch sport nationalities now. Guatemala will always be a part of me but I’m looking forward to this new chapter."

Esther is married to trainer Harper MacKenzie and will be competing in Wellington, Florida, this winter.