Sydney Elliott was the most recent Shreveport-Bossier native to become an Olympian, and I had the wonderful opportunity of interviewing her about her Louisiana roots and Olympic experience. Sydney followed in Evelyn Ashford’s and Kendrick Farris’s footsteps as Shreveport-Bossier Olympians. She competed in eventing, an equestrian sport consisting of dressage, jumping, and cross-country. Sydney was asked to join Team USA in Paris after Will Coleman’s horse Diabolo was injured, and Liz Halliday and her horse Nutcracker moved from the reserve team to the main team. Sydney became the new reserve team member with her horse QC “Q” Diamantaire.
Sydney’s love for horses started at a young age. She recalled a moment around the age of seven or eight when her parents, who bred labs, took her to a local animal supply store in Bossier City. They saw a flyer about horse lessons, and Sydney immediately expressed her interest. "That was the moment where I said, ‘Mom, I would love to go take some horse lessons,’ and then we found Holly Hill in Benton, and we never left." Holly Hill Farm, where she honed her skills, remained a special place to her.
Despite moving from Benton, a suburban area just outside of Shreveport-Bossier, to North Carolina a couple of years ago, Sydney still visited Shreveport-Bossier at least a few times a year. She enjoyed visiting local farms and restaurants, with 2Johns Steak & Seafood and Monjunis among her favorites. “I think that’s one of the biggest things I miss from home: our food. It is just so good and flavorful,” she said. But her favorite memory about Benton was the community. “The whole area just is so supportive . . . I would not be where I am without the community.”
Sydney’s career was full of impressive achievements. Notably, she was the highest-scoring member of the U.S. Eventing Team at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, where she helped secure a silver medal. Most recently, she served as the Traveling Reserve for the U.S. Eventing Team at the 2024 Paris Olympics. In addition to her international accomplishments, Sydney stayed connected to her roots by running a successful horse training school in Benton, mentoring young riders and helping to shape the next generation of equestrian talent.
One of the most exciting moments in Sydney's career took place on September 21, 2024, when she was inducted into the Walk of Stars. The induction ceremony was held at Holly Hill Farm, 1296 Old Plain Dealing Rd., Benton, Louisiana, at 6 p.m. under the pavilion. A food truck was on-site, and Sydney was available to sign photos of herself and her horse, "Q." Keepsake t-shirts were also available for purchase to show support and pride. This prestigious honor is reserved for individuals from Northwest Louisiana who have achieved national and international recognition in their respective fields. Sydney’s induction celebrated not only her equestrian accomplishments but also her commitment to giving back to the community that supported her throughout her journey.
When I asked how her Louisiana roots had shaped her into the person she is today, she replied, “I’m very accepting and open-minded to different lifestyles and different paths that you can take in your life, and I think that’s a product of growing up in Louisiana. I feel like we’re very welcoming to all different lifestyles, and I don’t necessarily think that you find that many other places. I would like to think that I welcome people with open arms like our state does.” Sydney clearly loved her hometown and even said she saw herself moving back to Benton sometime in the future.
Before the Paris Olympics, Sydney had the opportunity to compete in multiple competitions abroad, treating each event as just another challenge. She said she tried to keep her emotions in check to avoid feeling overwhelmed: “I try to kind of go in with an open mind and say, ‘Look, this is no different than any other event that you’ve done. Don’t get excited. Just keep the emotions really level.’”
When asked to give advice to Shreveport-Bossier Olympic hopefuls, she said, “I would say keep going no matter what. I was told many years ago that there was no way I could make it in Louisiana. And I am so stubborn, I said, ‘Yes, I can.’ . . . It was hard, but I loved Louisiana and I loved the people there that stood behind me all those years; I was not going to leave. I would say that you can do it from wherever you are . . . Just keep going. Be determined. If you want it bad enough, you can make it happen.”
