The Whitakers: 21 relatives. One great sporting dynasty: 'You've always got family around'

Illustration: Kelsea Petersen / The Athletic; David Madison / Getty, Ulstein Bild / Getty, Oliver McVeigh / Getty Share articleWherever show jumper William Whitaker competes in the world, there is almost certainly another relative taking part. Welcome to what might be the greatest family dynasty in sport. “Nine times out of 10, there’s a good chance there’ll be another Whitaker [competing], which is nice because you’ve always got family around,” William told The Athletic. The NBA has LeBron James and son Bronny at the LA Lakers. Cesare Maldini and his son Paolo both captained Italy’s soccer team, while Paolo’s son Daniel is also a professional. In skiing, world-class siblings include Croatia’s Janica and Ivica Kostelić, and Michelle, Dominique and Marc Gisin of Switzerland. Tennis, of course, had Serena and Venus Williams. But the Whitakers take some beating. “Off the top of my head, I have to say there is about 12,” Whitaker said, when asked how many family members are actively competing on the international circuit, before adding there was another generation waiting in the wings with nine family members competing at various levels aged 14 and under — making it a total of 21 show jumping Whitakers in all age groups. The dynasty is so vast that British equestrian magazine Horse & Hound once ran a quiz titled, “The ultimate Whitaker quiz: have you got the legendary showjumping family sussed?” It all began on the family farm in Huddersfield, an industrial town in the north of England, with brothers John and Michael Whitaker, who excelled in the sport in the 1980s and 1990s. Another brother also competed. This is where it potentially gets a little complicated: John’s children, Robert, Joanne and Louise; Michael’s son Jack; Steven’s children, Ellen and Donald; and William, George and James Whitaker, sons of the fourth brother, Ian — also a promising young rider himself at one stage — have all been top show jumpers. William, 36, is based on the original family farm with his brother James. In 2016, he became the third member of his family to win the famous British Jumping Derby at Hickstead, an equestrian centre an hour or so south of London, following in the footsteps of John and Michael. In June 2025, he was denied a second Hickstead win when he lost to his cousin Robert in a jump-off. In previous interviews, John has said the family’s success is down to both nature and nurture. While some athletes have struggled to live up to famous family members competing in the same sport, William reveled in the situation. “I always found it a privilege,” he said. “We were kind of following in the footsteps of John, Michael, Steven and my dad, really. Obviously, John and Michael were the two most successful in the sport (but) I never felt pressure as such. It was always something I was quite proud of, that I was involved with it. And if we ever needed any advice, they were always there, which is great.” Having family on the circuit, which runs year-round, makes a big difference. Although the Whitakers work in separate yards, they often help each other, taking on a horse temporarily if a family member is away, for example. At 16, William did work experience with both uncles John and Michael. “They were away a lot but every time I could catch them for a bit of a hand with one of the ponies or the horses (I would),” he said. After he finished school, William spent three months in the U.S.. On his return, he worked at Michael’s yard for the next seven years. “All my uncles, in their own way, and obviously my dad very much so, have been instrumental in what I’ve achieved so far,” William said. The Whitakers aren’t the only famous show jumping family. The four sons of four-time Belgian Olympian Ludo Philippaerts are all professional riders. Double Olympic bronze medalist Maikel van der Vleuten has represented the Netherlands on Nations Cup teams alongside his father Eric. And in the past decade, the UK-based Charles family —headed by former Olympic champion Peter Charles and his three children, Sienna, Harry and Scarlett — have established themselves as major contenders at national and international level. British eventing star Mary King, a veteran of six Olympics who retired in March after 46 seasons, competed alongside her daughter, Emily, now a leading eventer in her own right. When her daughter was making her way in the sport, King was careful not to be too overbearing. “You see these horsey mothers with the younger riders who are very bossy, telling them what to do all the time, and them ending up falling out,” King told The Athletic. “I thought, there’s no way I want to be a horsey mother like that. I want to stay friends with Emily, so I fairly let her do her own thing.” A post shared by Defender Burghley Horse Trials (@burghleyhorsetrials) Family rivalry is an interesting dynamic, of course, and King said she and her daughter shared a healthy respect. “We worked together for a number of years in my yard, at home, and going to competitions together,” she said. “I didn’t mind if she beat me. That was lovely. She always said, ‘I want to be better than you, mummy’. And I’d say, ‘Good, keep trying’.” But while the Whitakers all support one another when they are battling it out in the show jumping arena, things can get a little more heated in other sports. “If we’re ever playing football or cards, darts, pool, anything like that, it can become quite a competitive atmosphere, that’s for sure,” William said. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms