Yann Candele

Biography

Yann Candele’s talent became apparent early on when, as a junior rider, he competed twice at the European Junior Championships. Since then, he has competed around the world including in Japan were he won the 1991-92 Asian World Cup League. Representing his native France, Candele made several Nations’ Cup appearances and competed at the 2004 World Cup Final in Milan, Italy. In 1998, Candele moved to Canada to work for Olympic Champion Eric Lamaze. After obtaining his Canadian citizenship in 2008, Candele led Canada to back-to-back victories in the 2009 and 2010 Nations’ Cups in Wellington, Florida, and was a member of the winning team again in 2014. He has represented Canada at both the 2010 and 2014 World Equestrian Games and, incredibly, won four consecutive Canadian show jumping championship titles riding Pitareusa (2010), Game Ready (2011 and 2012), and Showgirl (2013). In 2015, he and Showgirl helped Canada win team jumping gold at the Pan Am Games in Toronto. Since 2007, Candele has operated his own training business, Normandy Hills, with his wife, Jennifer Wallace Candele. Candele was the travelling alternate for the London 2012 Olympic Jumping Team. In his official Olympic debut at Rio 2016, Candele and First Choice 15 were part of Canada’s fourth place finish in the team event, losing a jump-off to Germany for the bronze medal.

Getting to know…

Family: Has three children (Alexandre, Tate, and Mathilde) with wife Jennifer Wallace Candele, who is also a jumping rider… Getting into the Sport: Began riding at age 12… His parents encouraged him and his older brother to actively pursue sports… Once he tried riding, horses became his main focus, and within two years he was competing… Outside Interests: Enjoys golfing and cheering on his favourite hockey team, the Toronto Maple Leafs… Odds and Ends: In the early 1990s he was forced to return to France to complete his required civilian service, where his athlete status allowed him to work in the cavalry unit; he did 10 months of service…