Lee Pearson

Lee Pearson

Pearson at the parade in London to celebrate the achievements of British competitors at the 2008 Summer Paralympics.
Medal record
Para-Dressage
Competitor for  Great Britain
Summer Paralympics
2000 Sydney Dressage
2000 Sydney Freestyle dressage
2000 Sydney Team dressage
2004 Athens Dressage
2004 Athens Freestyle dressage
2004 Athens Team dressage
2008 Beijing Dressage
2008 Beijing Freestyle dressage
2008 Beijing Team dressage
2012 London Mixed Team Championship
2012 London Individual championship test grade Ib
2012 London Freestyle Dressage

David Lee Pearson, CBE (born 4 February 1974) is a 10-times paralympic games gold medallist having represented British para-equestrianism in Sydney, Athens, Beijing and London. He also has six world-championship and three European titles.

Biography

Pearson was born with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita and first came to public attention in 1980 when then-British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher carried him up stairs in 10 Downing Street having awarded him a 'Children of Courage' medal. He currently lives in Bagnall, Staffordshire.

He turned professional after he was inspired by the Atlanta Olympics. He won three gold medals in the championship dressage, freestyle dressage, and team dressage events at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Summer Paralympics. He won gold in the team dressage event at the 2012 Summer Paralympics, silver in the championship dressage and bronze in the freestyle.[1]

He noted after his failure to win gold in the freestyle competition in London that he had been voted down by the British judge but said that he would compete at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio, on a different horse.[2]

Lee Pearson CBE currently is the title holder of 34 Gold medals at European, World and Paralympic level.

Honours

Pearson was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Staffordshire University in July 2005.[3]

He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2001 New Year Honours "for services to Disabled Sports".[4] He was promoted to Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2005 "for services to Equestrianism and to Disabled Sport"[5] and to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2009 New Year Honours "for services to Equestrianism and to Disabled Sport".[6][7]

Personal life

Pearson runs his own dressage yard in Staffordshire and teaches many around the country.

See also

References

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