Australia Day 2018 honours: Olympic legend Gillian Rolton awarded posthumous Medal of the Order of Australia

ATLANTA Olympic hero Gillian Rolton has been awarded a posthumous Australia Day honour.

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SHE shot to legendary status when she broke her collarbone during a fall from her horse at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, before getting back on Peppermint Grove to help Australia win back-to-back gold medals.

Since her remarkable performance, Gillian Rolton has been honoured with awards, including a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) and induction into the SA Sport Hall of Fame, for her exemplary skills in the saddle.

But today, Rolton – who passed away last November following a two-year battle with cancer – has been honoured for her tireless work out of the saddle, including establishing the Australian International 3 Day Event, and several senior board, committee, coaching and judging positions. She has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.

Late equestrian legend Gillian Rolton with horse Fred (Peppermint Grove) in 1995.

Her husband Greg Rolton said the posthumous recognition for her work over the past 20 years was humbling.

“It’s one of those things that’s very sad and wonderful at the same time,” he said.

“The good thing is the nomination process she knew about just before she went into hospital.

“It was a wonderful surprise for her – she just rejoiced when she found out. She knew she was nominated for a reason and it was lovely for her to know that.

“This is extra special because the OAM is awarded to all gold medallists, and she got hers in 1992 and it has been over 20 years.

“But this is in recognition of the work she put into the Australian International 3 Day Event and the Federation Equestre Internationale.

“It reflects on what she has done since her competition days and that’s why it is extra special.” Rolton, 61, was admitted to hospital last October and died on November 18.

While in hospital, Rolton told The Advertiser she had two big goals for her future – to hold her beloved dog Josie’s pups and see the international equestrian event in the Adelaide Parklands.

Gillian Rolton with and dogs Josie and Jasmine. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Mr Rolton said his wife had about four weeks with the puppies, which he brought to the hospital every second day so she could give them a cuddle.

But he said she died during the 3 Day Event, on the day of the cross-country competition.

“There was some poetry in that,” he said.

Rolton was first diagnosed with cancer when she underwent a CT scan for appendicitis that showed a mass in her uterus. Following treatment, she was optimistic she had beaten it but doctors found a metastatic cancer in her groin.

She underwent further bouts of chemotherapy and radiation but was given a gut-wrenching blow when they found a mutation of the original cancer, which is very rare.

Rolton remained strong-willed in hospital and continued to plan the 3 Day Event from her hospital bed.