| Memorable sporting achievement |
Competing at six editions of the Olympic Games. "There is no other experience like it. It is highly addictive. It's just that pride and representing your country." (Victorian High Performance Dressage Squad Facebook page, 07 Oct 2021; Sunrise Facebook page, 23 Jul 2021) |
| Most influential person in career |
Her first husband Gert Donvig, who introduced her to dressage. (Athlete, 04 Jul 2012) |
| Hero / Idol |
British dressage rider Carl Hester, Dutch dressage riders Edward Gal and Anky van Grunsven. (Athlete, 04 Jul 2012) |
| Injuries |
She has experienced recurring back problems during her career and underwent an operation on a herniated disc in her back. The surgery took six months to recover from. (Athlete, 04 Jul 2012, 22 Jul 2005) |
| Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs |
She has a pair of lucky socks that she acquired at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. (AOC, 27 Jul 2016) |
| Sporting philosophy / motto |
"Keep calm and carry on." (AOC, 27 Jul 2016) |
| Awards and honours |
In 2020 and 2021 she was named Dressage Rider of the Year at the Equestrian Victoria Awards in Australia. (Facebook page, 09 Dec 2021; evarena.org.au, 01 Jan 2021, 01 Jan 2020; Facebook profile, 06 Nov 2020)
In 2018 she was inducted into the Equestrian Victoria Hall of Fame in Australia, and received the Gold Badge of Honour from the International Federation for Equestrian Sports [FEI]. (weeklytimesnow.com.au, 21 Aug 2018; equestrian.org.au, 15 Jun 2018)
She was flag bearer for Australia at the opening ceremony of the 2014 World Equestrian Games [WEG] in Normandy, France. (an-eventful-life.com.au, 23 Aug 2014) |
| Other sports |
She has competed at the world championship Etchells sailing event. (thetrots.com.au, 14 Dec 2022; Athlete, 04 Jul 2012) |
| Famous relatives |
Her husband Rob was chef d'equipe of the Australian eventing team at the Olympic Games in 2008 and 2012. Her first husband Gert Donvig, who died in 1988, was a dressage rider at an elite level. Her daughter Gitte Donvig has represented Australia in dressage at World Cup events. (SportsDeskOnline, 06 Jan 2015; statstatenepark.com.au, 15 Dec 2014; equestrian.org.au, 29 Jan 2014; Athlete, 04 Jul 2012) |
| Ambitions |
To compete at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. (eurodressage.com, 05 Jan 2023) |
| Other information |
EYES ON PARIS
She was the oldest competitor in any sport at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo at age 66, and she has set her sights on making her seventh Olympic appearance at the 2024 Games in Paris. "I don't think about my age because there's a lot of older people riding and doing really well. Nobody in horse sport ever mentions my age, it's only when I get out of horse sport that people mention it and think it's a bit odd. But young or old, it doesn't make a difference, if you're fit and healthy, you can just keep going. Unless my body really breaks down, I'm certainly aiming for [the 2024 Olympic Games in] Paris. I think it's getting a little bit late to aim for a gold medal - but I'm not giving up." (eurodressage.com, 05 Jan 2023; latestartersclub.com, 12 Dec 2022; equestrianhub.com.au, 01 Aug 2021; canberratimes.com.au, 25 Jul 2021; nbcolympics.com, 24 Jul 2021; horseandhound.co.uk, 24 Jul 2021)
STABLES
In 2021 she and her husband Rob sold their property in Bellarine, VIC, Australia, after 15 years there. They moved their Statene Park stables to a new estate in Gisborne, VIC, Australia, in order to be closer to family. They coach riders, and train and trade dressage horses at the facility. She has also spent time in Europe, and in 2018 she was briefly based at Australian rider Briana Burgess' yard near Munster, Germany. (equestrianhub.com.au, 03 May 2022, 01 Aug 2021; eurodressage.com, 03 Jan 2022; Instagram profile, 16 Dec 2021; statenepark.com.au, 30 Jul 2021; eurodressage.com, 04 Apr 2018)
BACK TO AUSTRALIA
She was a long-time pupil of Swedish equestrian Patrik Kittel, who is based in Germany, and in 2018 she began moving her horses to a satellite barn in Munster near Kittel's stables in Appelhulsen. In October 2019 she decided to return to Australia to take care of her daughter Gitte, who had sustained a serious head injury in a riding accident. She continued to receive coaching from Kittel by video over the internet until mid-2021, when the pair parted ways and she began working with Henri Ruoste. "In October [2019] my daughter Gitte suffered a traumatic head injury after a horse fell with her. I have made the decision to bring my horses home to Australia, so I can remain close to her and her family during the recovery phase. I loved training with Patrik but since I came home after Gitte's accident, we had to bring all the horses and our dog home. Gitte's recovery has been challenging and she still has a long difficult path ahead. So add in COVID and all our restrictions and until now it has been impossible to return to Europe. Patrik was generous with his time to teach me on the internet up until mid-2021, however. He was very busy with his clients in his stable, so for business reasons decided to discontinue teaching me." (eurodressage.com, 03 Jan 2022; eqlifemag.com.au, 01 Feb 2021; dressage-news.com, 29 Feb 2020; Facebook page, 20 Oct 2019; statenepark.com.au, 11 Aug 2019; equestrianhub.com.au, 08 May 2019)
BIOGRAPHY
She has written an account of her life called 'A Long Rein'. Among other things, the book describes how she saved her horses from a bushfire and talks about the car crash that killed her first husband Gert Donvig. "The unifying theme is looking at people who have influenced my life, who have helped me get through difficult times. When I set out to write this book I intended it to be a love story about my mother, but as her story unfolded and I researched it, I realised there were many gaps. In trying to fill in those gaps I learnt a lot more about my mother and that made me understand myself." (weeklytimesnow.com.au, 27 Nov 2013) |
| General highlights |
She was selected by Australia for the 1996, 2000, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games. She was a reserve at Paris 2024. |
| Milestones |
At age 66 years and 238 days, she became the oldest athlete from any sport to have represented Australia at the Olympic Games when she participated at the 2020 Games in Tokyo. The Games were her sixth, a record for an Australian dressage rider at the Olympic Games. (SportsDeskOnline, 22 Nov 2021) |
FEI Database
www.statenepark.com.au/ 
Statenepark 
Mary Hanna Dressage 
