 | FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE Born: Crowborough, East Sussex, 7.10.68 Lives: Forest Green, Surrey Trainer: Ruth McMullen Major honours: Olympics - individual bronze, team silver (Athens 2004), team silver (Sydney 2000); European Championships: individual bronze and team gold (Punchestown 2003) individual and team gold (Pau 2001), individual and team gold (Luhmuhlen, 1999); World Equestrian Games - team bronze (Jerez 2002); Kentucky winner - 2003; Badminton winner 2005, 2003, 2002; Burghley winner - 2003 |
Most sporting prowess is founded on a self-belief so unshakeable that it is often mistaken for arrogance.
Tennis star Bjorn Borg was labelled icy cool, bionic runner Michael Johnson was branded aloof and - just in case anyone was unclear on the matter - boxing legend Muhammad Ali said himself that he was "the greatest".
But Pippa Funnell is a different animal entirely.
There is nothing cocksure about the golden girl of British eventing - rather she wears her emotional heart on her sleeve and openly admits to being dogged at times by doubt.
In fact, Funnell was so frustrated by her limited success during the 1990s that she seriously considered calling it quits before linking up with sports psychologist Nikki Heath.
The 1987 European Young Rider champion picked up a smattering of victories (Luhmuhlen, Blenheim and Bramham) after stepping up to senior level.
But the blue ribbon prizes - Badminton, Burghley, and major championship glory - were always just beyond her reach.
Instead the fates forced her to wait until 1999 for the breakthrough that proved what Heath had been telling her - that she could cut it at the sharp-end of her chosen sport.
Funnell's fortunes changed dramatically that year when her hard-earned partnership with Supreme Rock finally yielded four-star results - sixth at Badminton plus European team and individual gold.
|  There were a lot of low points during the years when I never achieved at the top and Nikki got me believing in myself |
Since then the Sussex-born rider has gone from strength-to-strength, capturing - among other things - two Olympic team silvers, an individual Games bronze, a hat-trick of Badminton trophies and the world number one spot.
Funnell also entered the record books as the first, and at present only, winner of eventing's Grand Slam when she triumphed at Kentucky, then Badminton and Burghley in 2003.
Britain's Olympic eventing champion Leslie Law told this website in April that he was unsure Funnell's feat would ever be repeated it was so staggering and, not surprisingly, such a phenomenal run catapulted her into the sporting mainstream.
Since Funnell's Slam success, the 36-year-old has written an autobiography, made the BBC Sports Personality of the Year shortlist and appeared on A Question of Sport.
And as well as bringing on new rides such as Blue Horizon, who helped her to a historic fourth career victory at Windsor on Sunday, Funnell has somehow found the time to coach the country's next generation - the GB Potential Squad.
But, despite all the hard graft and a wonderful ability to inspire the best from her horses on the flat or over massive fences, Funnell admits the doubting demons remain part of her psyche.
The difference now is she has learnt to bury them deep down.
"There were a lot of low points during the years when I never achieved at the top and Nikki got me believing in myself," she said.
"I started asking a lot of big questions again after doing the Slam. I felt a great burden of expectation and I had to go right back to basics and remind myself of why I do what I do.
 Funnell and Supreme Rock celebrate their second Badminton title in 2003. Rocky was retired in April. |
"The answer was simple - 'because I enjoy the challenge'. Now I just focus on the good things like the fact I've already been so lucky and have had a lot of great results.
"I'd love to win a third individual gold medal when Britain host the European Championships at Blenheim in September.
"And to become an Olympic champion would cap everything.
"But I've realised it's best not to set long-term targets because in this game you never know what is around the corner."
Funnell is, of course, alluding to the high-risk nature of eventing - a real and present danger which has cost the lives of several of her friends.
But her competitive future is also unclear for another reason - a desire to start a family with show jumping-husband William.
Like marathon star Paula Radcliffe, Funnell is trying to work out where children fit into the hectic mix.
The Surrey-based equestrian will be just a few months short of 40 come the next Olympics, so what are the options: A career break before attempting to land gold in China; missing Beijing then making a comeback; retirement?
| We want to have children and I really feel that I am at a crossroads |
"We want to have children and I really feel that I am at a crossroads," she told BBC Sport.
"When will it happen? Well, I know it's a bit of a politician's reply, but I'm keeping all my options open."
Make of that what you will but one thing's for sure, with or without a Games gold, Funnell has already done more than enough to warrant a place in eventing's Hall of Fame.
She is not outclassed in the company of Britain's six-times Badminton winner and former world champion Lucinda Green, New Zealand's two-time Olympic champion Mark Todd and GB Olympian Ginny Leng.
Typically, though, the self-effacing Funnell is not entirely comfortable with that suggestion.
"I still think of the likes of Lucinda, Toddy and Ginny as my idols because essentially I am still the same person I was when I started out," she said.
"Also, the sport has moved on a long way. These days it's a lot more technical and safety conscious and it is important to keep that sense of perspective."
Which is exactly what Funnell will need to fulfill all her ambitions - personal and professional.
MMIX
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