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Para Dressage

"I owe this to my horse. He picked me up out of my wheelchair and said 'come on, we going to make this work together'. I thought he should stop in beauty. It was really a dream come true. "
Michele George (BEL), Paralympic champion

Para Dressage @Rio2016 was a test of total horsemanship and determination proving just how competitive and hard fought medals have become in a sport which originates from therapeutic riding. The display of team spirit, #TwoHearts and genuine grit were a huge success with the home crowd, who were well rewarded with two individual bronze medals in Grade Ia.

New nations and champions graced the podiums, but Great Britain continued their stronghold on the team title – unbeaten since Para Dressage joined the Paralympic programme in 1996 – with yet another gold medal.

Key stats @Rio2016 Para Dressage


20 years – on the Paralympic programme
for Para Dressage


Men

0

Women

0


29 nations // Paralympic Para Dressage
début for Uruguay


14 nations in the team competition


5 Grades: Ia, Ib, II, III and IV
(these have since been renamed to I, II, III, IV, and V)


2 sets of medals per Grade:
Individual Championship & Freestyle


1 set of team medals


3x in a row: defending champions
Sophie Christiansen wins gold for the third consecutive edition


6th consecutive team gold for
Great Britain // unbeaten since 1996


1996-2016: MEDAL TALLY


Most Paralympic gold medals per nation in Para Dressage: Great Britain

0

(24 individual + 6 team)
Most individual Paralympic
gold medals in Para Dressage:

Lee Pearson (GBR)

0

(2 x 2000, 2 x 2004,
2 x 2008, 1 x 2016)

Individual medal podiums - Grade Ia

Individual Championship

Sophie Christiansen (GBR) & Athene Lindebjerg
Anne Dunham (GBR) & Lucas Normark
Sergio Oliva (BRA) & Coco Chanel

Freestyle

Sophie Christiansen (GBR) & Athene Lindebjerg
Anne Dunham (GBR) & Lucas Normark
Sergio Oliva (BRA) & Coco Chanel

Grade Ib

Individual Championship

Pepo Puch (AUT) & Fontainenoir
Lee Pearson (GBR) & Zion
Stinna Kaastrup (DEN) & Smarties

Freestyle

Lee Pearson (GBR) & Zion
Pepo Puch (AUT) & Fontainenoir
Stinna Kaastrup (DEN) & Smarties

Grade II

Individual Championship

Natasha Baker (GBR) & Cabral
Demi Vermeulen (NED) & Burberry
Rixt Van Der Horst (NED) & Caraat

Freestyle

Natasha Baker (GBR) & Cabral
Rixt Van Der Horst (NED) & Caraat
Steffen Ziebig (GER) & Feel Good 4

Grade III

Individual Championship

Ann Cathrin Lubbe (NOR) & Donatello
Susanne Sunesen (DEN) & Que Faire
Louise Etzner Jakobsson (SWE) & Zernard

Freestyle

Sanne Voets (NED) & Demantur
Ann Cathrin Lubbe (NOR) & Donatello
Louise Etzner Jakobsson (SWE) & Zernard

Grade IV

Individual Championship

Sophie Wells (GBR) & Valerius
Michele George (BEL) & Fbw Rainman
Frank Hosmar (NED) & Alphaville

Freestyle

Michele George (BEL) & Fbw Rainman
Sophie Wells (GBR) & Valerius
Frank Hosmar (NED) & Alphaville

Team medal podium

Great Britain
Germany
The Netherlands