( CNN ) -- Equestrian champion Ingrid Klimke could ride a horse before she could walk , such is the fondness her family holds for the animals . The German 's father , Reiner , won an incredible six Olympic gold medals spread across five separate installments of the Games between 1964 and 1988 before his death in 1999 . His dream was for one of his children to follow in his footsteps and participate at the Games , which Ingrid duly did in Sydney in 2000 . And eight years later Ingrid became the second Klimke to clinch a gold medal when she was part of the German three-day eventing team that triumphed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics . Klimke has now competed in three Olympics and has also claimed a host of domestic and international titles over a 21-year career in the sport . CNN 's Human to Hero show caught up with the 43-year-old and her horse FRH Butts Abraxxas , nicknamed `` Braxx , '' at her home in Munster , Germany as she prepares to saddle up for her fourth Olympics in London . Starting out . `` My mother says that I could ride , or sit on a horse before I could walk . I just grew up with horses , '' Klimke told CNN . The 43-year-old did a Masters in Equestrian Management after university and trained in dressage , stadium jumping and three-day eventing . Klimke began competing in the late 1980s and opened her own stables in 1998 . Heroes . It is no surprise Klimke 's father has been the most influential person in her career . Learning from a five-time Olympian has helped shape her own successful path in the sport . `` My father was a wonderful dressage rider , but he also started with eventing . In 1960 he took part at the Olympics in Rome as an eventer , but then afterward he started doing dressage , '' she said . `` He counted in Olympic years because for him the Olympics was just his thing . His dream was that one of his children would go to the Olympics . `` Later I could work out whether I preferred more dressage or more eventing -- that 's why I still do both . '' Setbacks . Injuries are part and parcel of any rider 's career , and Klimke has had her fair share of bumps and bruises . `` I think if you have a life with horses you have injuries , and I 've had some falls , '' she said . `` Last year I fell at Badminton ( England 's prestigious horse trials ) and I damaged my knee -- so that put me out for three months right in the middle of the season . You always have to take your time to come back . '' Olympic memories . Klimke 's appearance in London will be her fourth Olympics , having competed in Sydney , Athens and Beijing , but her gold at the Games in China was her first . `` Sydney was my first four-star event and it was a very tough , long course , 13 minutes up and down . It was hot ! '' she said . `` The Olympics is the thing I grew up with and that 's why I keep going with my next generation of horses , hoping one of them will be able to follow in Braxx 's footsteps . `` You must always have dreams and goals never rest , never think you have had it all -- then it is better to quit -- but I would love to keep going . ''
Germany 's Ingrid qualified to compete in her fourth Olympics in Beijing this year . The 43-year - old won gold for Germany as part of three - day eventing team at 2008 Olympics . Inspired by father who won six gold medals at four separate Olympics from 1964 to 1988 . Klimke has won a host of international and domestic titles in a career spanning 20 years .