Honoring Amy Tryon at the 2012 Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event

It is with much sadness that we acknowledge the passing of United States Olympian Amy Tryon for the USEventing Team.  Competitors, friends, officials and family in attendance at the 2012 Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event came together to celebrate her life recounting endless stories of humor, the joy of knowing her, and the sadness at her untimely passing. The tears flowed from loss and laughter as stories were shared.  USEF President and former US team member with Amy, David O’Connor led the tribute, recounting tales and inviting others to join in. Tryon was a career firefighter at the Pine Lake Fire Station 81, in Redmond, Washington, before retiring to pursue her Olympic dreams. Amy was held in high esteem by all and described as being “bigger than life”.  She was strong and sturdy; a requirement of her full-time job as a firefighter.  O’Connor recounted the story where team coach Capt. Mark Phillips was emphasizing the importance of fitness, and Tryon responded “I can carry you out of a burning building slung over my shoulder, is that fit enough for you?Amy was born in Redmond, Washington in February 1970 and started competing at the age of five and participated in her first event when she was just eight.  She went on from there to be a top contender representing the United States far and wide. She and her top horse Poggio II competed at two Olympic Games: Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008. Amy came away from the Athens 2004 Olympic Games as a team bronze medalist. She also competed in two FEI World Equestrian Games, winning team gold in Jerez de la Frontera (ESP) in 2002 and individual bronze in Aachen (GER) in 2006.  Also in 2006, Amy was recognized as the magazine’s Horseman of the Year and her mount Poggio II was named Eventing Horse of the Year by the Chronicle.Captain Mark Phillips, US Eventing Team Chef d'Equipe, said: “Amy was one of my first developing riders on the West Coast and went on to be a regular member of the team for 10 years. “We won the Worlds in 2002 and she was third individually in the Aachen World Equestrian Games. We will all miss her terribly. She was a central member of the team, and was part of some of our most successful years.”

Following is the obituary from her family, posted on Amy's Website, teamtryon.com.
On April 12, 2012, with her beloved Razzle and Jasmine at her side, Amy Tryon the daughter of Jemi and Larry; sister to Kerrie; Aunt to Jayson, Kyle and Lauryn; friend to horse and human alike; and spouse to Greg, passed away.As we struggle in the loss, we are comforted by the friends, family, supporters and strangers who have taken us under their wings. We ask that all take a moment to reflect on Amy whether that little girl on a pony, that girl on the horse, that woman representing her country in the Olympics, or the woman serving her community as a firefighter. We hope that brings a smile and a bit of comfort as it does us.

Although Amy was intensely shy, her evident joy in the world was brought out in the presence of animals. She was fiercely determined and focused. Nothing was insurmountable or preordained to her. She just wanted to see if she could...

Her family asks that remembrances be made to your local humane society, and that each of us remembers anything is possible if we try.