Wellington, FL (January 18, 2011) – Olympic Dressage rider Dottie Morkis, who in 1976 anchored the Olympic U.S. Dressage team to help the Americans win the bronze medal, is in Wellington, Florida for the winter dressage circuit and is accepting new students and teaching clinics. During the Olympics, Morkis also placed fifth in the Grand Prix Special and will go down in history as the first American to earn that accomplishment.
While Morkis looks back fondly on her Olympic days, her list of accomplishments stretches far beyond her bronze medal. Morkis is a Pan Am Gold and Bronze medalist, has been in the winner’s circle multiple times at prestigious shows such as Devon and Washington International, coached the Gold Medal Paralympics Team in Atlanta, has shown horses to the USDF Horse of the Year title, served 12 years on the Athlete Advisory Committee as the equestrian representative to the U.S. Olympic Committee, twice won Team Golds at the Olympic Festival, was reserve rider for the World Cup and was long listed for the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.
“Looking back at my career I feel very fortunate,” Morkis said. “In addition to competing and traveling around the world, I have been coming to Wellington every winter for the past 24 years and always enjoy it. I love to ride and compete, but I also love to teach. When a student is excited and shows a great deal of interest in improving, I find it to be a rewarding experience.”