Paralympic Team GB Going for Gold
The ParalympicsGB have today confirmed the four para equestrian athletes and horses selected to represent team GB at the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
By grade, the combinations are:
- Grade 1: Sophie Christiansen with her own Innuendo III
- Grade 2: Sir Lee Pearson with his own Breezer
- Grade 3: Natasha Baker with Joanna Jensen, Christian Landolt, P. Baker and her own Keystone Dawn Chorus
- Grade 5: Sophie Wells with Charlotte Hogg’s C Fatal Attraction
The travelling grooms for the horses in Tokyo will be Liz Walsh and Jade Lockwood.
Sophie Christiansen said “Being selected for my fifth Games is unbelievable. The Paralympic movement changed my life when I went to Athens 2004 at just 16 years old. I hope Tokyo 2020 will inspire others in the same way and put disability awareness at the forefront of people’s minds again. The standard of Grade 1 has shot up in the last couple of years and it has not been an easy cycle but, whatever happens, I’m so proud of the home team I’ve created and the horses I’ve trained.”
Sir Lee Pearson (Grade 2) commented after selection saying “With the year we’ve had, it seems quite surreal to be selected from my sixth Paralympic Games. I’m unbelievably excited and I’m very proud of Breezer, who has pulled out all the stops this year throughout qualification and selection. Thank you for all my supporters and I wish all the athletes a safe journey and competition. I can’t wait for the Games to begin.”
Natasha Baker said “It feels incredible to be back competing for ParalympicsGB – I feel so honoured and so lucky to be selected for my third Games. Lottie and I have had a great year together so far and, although it’s still early in our partnership, I can’t wait to see what we can do over in Tokyo. This will be Lottie’s first time away from British soil, but I’m sure she’ll be an absolute superstar. It’s a massive honour to be representing my country again, especially given everything we’ve been through in the last year and a half. Everyone has been through a really tough time, so to have this feels like such a celebration and it shows that hard work pays off. We can’t wait to get out there and do our best. I’d like to thank Lottie’s owners and my coaches for all their support, and of course the selectors for having faith in me again.”
Sophie Wells commented saying “It feels quite surreal to be going to my third Paralympic Games, to be honest, especially after everything that’s happened in the last 18 months. We’ve worked really hard to get here and it’s very exciting, so now we just need to keep up the momentum until we get to Tokyo.”
The para equestrian competition will take place from 26–30 August, at Equestrian Park in Bajikoen, Tokyo – Good luck to you all.