Jonty Evans represented Ireland in eventing at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, finishing 9th individually and 8th as part of the Irish team alongside Padraig McCarthy, Mark Kyle and Clare Abbott.

Evans grew up near Trefriw in the Conwy Valley in North Wales and qualifies to represent Ireland through his grandfather, who was born in Northern Ireland. He has competed internationally in eventing for more than two decades, representing Ireland at the European Eventing Championships in 2005, where he placed 7th in the team event, and helping Ireland to their first ever FEI Eventing Nations’ Cup victory at Boekelo in 2015.

His Olympic horse, Cooley Rorkes Drift – known as Art – came to him by chance when Evans stopped to assist a broken-down horsebox and offered to stable the young gelding temporarily. In June 2018, Evans suffered a severe traumatic brain injury after a fall at Tattersalls International Horse Trials, which left him in a coma for nearly seven weeks. Following a lengthy recovery, he returned to competition and has since transitioned into para dressage.