Hometown: Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. Birthday: 12/25/1990 Sport/Disciplines: Jumping Olympic Years: 2024

Karl Cook began riding at eight alongside his mother, Signe, and sister, Annie Laurie. What soon followed was a lifelong passion for horses. Between 2007 and 2009, Cook’s trajectory was that of a successful Junior/Young Rider competing in the FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC) for three consecutive years, winning team and individual gold in 2007 and team and individual silver in 2008.

Based out of Pomponio Ranch South in Rancho Santa Fe, California, Cook has continued to produce top results throughout his professional career with the help of coach and mentor Eric Navet (France), competing in three FEI World Cup® Finals and multiple NetJets® U.S. Jumping Teams including at the 2023 FEI Nations Cup® Final in Barcelona. Ranking among Cook’s most notable Grand Prix wins are Hampton Classic 2022, American Gold Cup, $1 Million Coachella Cup, Major League Show Jumping Top Individual Rider in 2023, CSI5* Rolex Grand Prix of Rome in 2024, and winning Silver for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The 2024 season has been a strong showing for Cook and his string. With Caracole de la Roque, Cook took second in the prestigious Rolex Grand Prix in Wellington, Fla., before being named to the U.S. Jumping Team Short List for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The duo were strong in their Nations Cup competitions, and exceled in each of their Grand Prix classes, securing top honors in the Rolex Grand Prix of Rome CSIO5* in May and earning a second-place finish at the Rolex Grand Prix of La Baule CSIO5* in June. 

Cook and Caracole de la Roque were selected as the alternate athlete combination for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The pair ultimately competed on the team and helped secure the Team Silver Medal alongside teammates Laura Kraut and Mclain Ward.