Hester's medals an inspiration

At the weekend, the senior figure of the GB team, at his seventh Games, stepped up to the medal podium for the fourth consecutive time to collect his another medal in team dressage and add to his story and legacy.

Within his sport, the chat is moving away from the trials of Charlotte Dujardin to the future of Hester, now 57. Is that the end of his Olympic road?

‘Why should I not retire after that?’ he said at the weekend. ‘I’m not sure I could repeat that again.

‘There’s two ways of looking at it, either I’m getting better because today was my best day, or I should stop there.’

Whatever he decides, Great Britain, the Bailiwick of Guernsey, and Sark can be proud of Hester for an unbelievable career and Olympic record, both as competitor, team-mate and mentor.

Whether he inspires youngsters into dressage is one thing, but broadly speaking, Hester and the generations of athletes that have followed him over the past decade in particular are an inspiration to island youth.

There was a time not so long ago where we didn’t have many, or any, athletes performing at the highest level in their sports.

Now we expect it to see it, and long may that continue to give us success to celebrate, and role models to inspire.