Vote William Steinkraus in 2012

For the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, of course. Voting opened today to determine the next class of inductees, and the show-jumping legend is included among the individual nominee finalists.

Steinkraus deserves it, after all. He participated in five Olympic games, winning individual gold at the 1968 games in Mexico City; two team silvers, first in 1960 in Rome and then in 1972 in Munich; and a team bronze at the 1952 games in Helsinki. After he retired from competition in ’72, he remained involved in the sport as an official, commentator, judge, trainer and author. Steinkraus is now 86 years old.

The voting period opened today and will continue through April 9. Inductees will be announced on May 15, with an induction ceremony on July 12. You can vote up to once daily. [Direct link to voting page.]

Thanks to Lorraine Jackson for the tip.

Steinkraus, on Main Spring, is the fourth and final rider on this video of the second round of team competition in Munich in 1972. The other riders are Gerd Wiltfang on Askan, Piero d’Inzeo on Easter Light, and Hans Günter Winkler on Torphy. Germany barely edged out the U.S. to claim gold, winning by a quarter of a time fault.

Photo: From the cover of Reflections on Riding and Jumping by William Steinkraus.