Six-time Olympian Robert Dover Recovering from Surgery on 2 Heart Valves
Robert Dover Undergoes Heart Surgery
9 November 2025 at 12:41 pmBy k.braddick
6-Time Olympian Robert Dover Recovering from Heart Surgery
Six-time Olympian Robert Dover of USA is recovering from surgery on two heart valves.
Robert, 69, who lives in Wellington, Florida, has spent longer in the hospital than expected as he has had “pacing issues” that, he joked is “funny for a dressage rider.”
The operation was performed Tuesday by Dr. Joseph Lamelas of Naples, Florida who pioneered minimally invasive surgery.
“I have known for a year that I needed heart surgery on two congenitally bad valves,” he said. “Fortunately, the surgeon who invented a way to do this procedure minimally invasive with a two-inch (5cm) incision in your right side instead of open heart is my guy.
“I would have been ready to go home Thursday, but I’ve been having ‘pacing issues’. My heart rate and blood pressure are low and then my heart rate spikes up, not electrically connected from upper to lower chamber."
He hopes to go home Sunday.
Robert rode on six Olympic teams for USA on six different horses for four bronze medals from 1984 in Los Angeles to 2004 at Athens. He was coach of the American team at the 2016 Olympics and at the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon that claimed silver.
Robert Dover as USA coach cheering on American team at 2016 Olympics. Photo: Ken Braddick
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