BUMPY RIDE
Who is Charlotte Dujardin’s fiancé Dean Wyatt-Golding?
The gold medallist's partner has spoken out
TEAM GB's joint-most decorated female Olympian, Charlotte Dujardin, has had her career rocked by a shocking video that appears to show her whipping a horse — resulting in a ban from the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Dean Wyatt-Golding, the equestrian's fiancé, has been by her side throughout much of her time in the spotlight, but what do we know about him and their relationship?
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Who is Charlotte Dujardin's fiancé Dean Wyatt-Golding?
Dean Wyatt-Golding is from Durban, South Africa.
He runs a Gloucestershire-based construction firm, which specialises in equestrian building.
He and Dujardin have been engaged three times.
How did Charlotte Dujardin and Dean meet?
Dean met Dujardin in 2007 when the couple were introduced by Charlotte's trainer, Carl Hester.
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The pair got engaged the following year but called the wedding plans off after the London 2012 Olympics, in which Dujardin won two gold medals.
She told the : "Dean found the media side of things really difficult — that and not being able to see me so much because I was travelling abroad a lot competing.
"He said, 'the media know more about you than I do'.
"He told me he needed to be alone to clear his head."
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At the 2016 Olympic games in Rio, Dean proposed publicly.
As he cheered Dujardin on from the crowd, he popped the question by wearing a t-shirt which read 'Can we get married?'.
Charlotte Dujardin pulls out of Olympics
However, the engagement was once again called off in July 2020.
According to Dujardin: "He made that decision — that call — and I had to go through with it so he went and I went away to Cornwall. Some friends down there invited me for the weekend. We took the horses swimming, galloped on Bude beach, anything to take my mind away from Dean.
"I kept thinking why? Why was I not good enough? Why didn't it work? ... I think we just outgrew each other. I just went to places beyond where he even thought I could go and he struggled with that.
"I realised I needed to find who I was. I don't think I had found that out because I'd always had him and always, kind of, kept going back. Actually, I was like, 'no, you need to find yourself'."
Despite saying that she had "tortured herself enough" in the relationship, Dujardin reconciled with her ex and the engagement was back on.
Dujardin and Dean welcomed their first child in 2023.
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What has Dean Wyatt-Golding said about Charlotte Dujardin?
Dean Wyatt-Golding spoke out after a distressing video emerged which showed his fiancée whipping a horse 24 times.
Speaking outside their home, Dean said: “I can't say anything beyond Charlotte's statement.
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In response to questions about how the video might have been leaked, he added: “No, we have no idea.
“Charlotte is obviously cooperating with the equestrian authorities for now.”
Charlotte Dujardin's statement
“A video has emerged from four years ago which shows me making an error of judgement during a coaching session.
“Understandably, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) is investigating.
“And I have made the decision to withdraw from all competition – including the Paris Olympics – while this process takes place.
“What happened was completely out of character and does not reflect how I train my horses or coach my pupils, however there is no excuse.
“I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example in that moment.
“I am sincerely sorry for my actions and devastated that I have let everyone down, including Team GB, fans and sponsors.
“I will cooperate fully with the FEI, British Equestrian Federation and British Dressage during their investigations, and will not be commenting further until the process is complete.”
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