Some of you were talking in comments about American Idol, executive producer, Nigel Lythgoe’s niece, Charlotte Dujardin, winning Olympic Gold today in a dressage event. Here’s a little more information about Charlotte from TMZ:
Nigel Lythgoe’s niece is now England’s idol, after winning her second gold medal in the Olympics this morning.
Charlotte Dujardin rode her way to victory in the non-sport of dressage … a fancy term for horse dancing.
As for the connection between the famed “American Idol” honcho and Charlotte, she’s his ex-wife’s sister’s daughter. Translation — even though Nigel calls her his niece, it’s really his ex-niece.
Nigel tells us, although he hasn’t spoken to her in 9 years, he sponsored her for a year in dressage before he got divorced.
Nigel tells TMZ when he found out Charlotte won for a second time this AM, he actually cried.
Oh. She is his niece by marriage. Nigel hasn’t seen her since his divorce. Well, they were married for a pretty long time, so he probably was close to Charlotte at one point. He sponsored the Olympic winner in the expensive sport at one time. But divorce can alter some arrangements.
Nigel tweeted about the event this morning:
#msnbc is showing individual Olympic dressage NOW . I should see my niece, Charlotte in a minute. Keep your fingers crossed for her please.
What these horses are doing is incredible. #SoYouThinkYourHorseCanDance
She did it she did it she did it #GOLD
Congratulations all around!
