British Equestrian Interviews

Georgia Wilson - ParalympicsGB announces para equestrian squad for Paris 2024 Paralympic Games

Georgia Wilson and Sakura (Grade 2) made their Games debut at Tokyo 2020 following a late call-up from the reserves bench and went on to win individual and freestyle bronze. Since then, their partnership has achieved podium placings at the FEI Para Dressage World Championship 2022 and FEI Para Dressage European Championship in 2023. On her return to the ParalympicsGB squad, Wilson said: “I’m very excited and proud to be selected for Paris 2024 – I can’t believe I get to go to a second Paralympic Games with Sakura. I’m honoured and I can’t wait to go out and try my best in Paris.” Full Press Release 18th July 2024 [https://www.britishequestrian.org.uk/news/paralympicsgb-announces-para-equestrian-squad-for-paris-2024-paralympic-games] A total of around 220 athletes from 19 sports are expected to make up the British team that will compete in Paris, with further names to be announced by ParalympicsGB in the coming days. At Tokyo 2020, ParalympicsGB won medals across a record breaking 18 different sports – the highest number of any nation ever. ParalympicsGB finished second on the medal table with 124 medals overall, including 41 gold, 38 silver and 45 bronze. The para equestrian competition will take place from 3–7 September in the scenic grounds of the Château de Versailles, just outside of Paris.

Mari Durward-Akhurst - ParalympicsGB announces para equestrian squad for Paris 2024 Paralympic Games

Mari Durward-Akhurst (Grade 1) will make her Paralympic Games debut in Paris. Previously a team silver medallist at the FEI Para Dressage European Championship in 2019, she now partners experienced horse Athene Lindebjerg, who contested Rio 2016 with Sophie Christiansen to win triple gold. Durward-Akhurst, who in June became the world number one ranked athlete across all five para dressage grades, said: “I am so incredibly excited to have been selected for my first Paralympics – it’s a dream come true. I’m honoured to be riding Diane Redfern’s Athene and look forward to us competing together on the world’s biggest stage. I can’t thank everybody enough who has got us to this point.” Full Press Release 18th July 2024 [https://www.britishequestrian.org.uk/news/paralympicsgb-announces-para-equestrian-squad-for-paris-2024-paralympic-games] A total of around 220 athletes from 19 sports are expected to make up the British team that will compete in Paris, with further names to be announced by ParalympicsGB in the coming days. At Tokyo 2020, ParalympicsGB won medals across a record breaking 18 different sports – the highest number of any nation ever. ParalympicsGB finished second on the medal table with 124 medals overall, including 41 gold, 38 silver and 45 bronze. The para equestrian competition will take place from 3–7 September in the scenic grounds of the Château de Versailles, just outside of Paris.

Sophie Wells OBE - ParalympicsGB announces para equestrian squad for Paris 2024 Paralympic Games

Sophie Wells (Grade 5) is another athlete to make her fourth Games appearance in Paris. She took three golds and three silvers across London 2012 and Rio 2016, followed by team gold and individual silver at Tokyo 2020 with new ride Don Cara M. Wells, who has represented ParalympicsGB at every Paralympic Games, World Championship and European Championship since 2011, said: “I’m thrilled to be selected for Paris 2024 as my fourth Paralympic Games. It still feels surreal when we get to this point. I’ve been so proud of my horse, Don Cara M, throughout his selection campaign this year and am very grateful to his owner, Rowland Kinch. It’s starting to feel much more real now as we head into the final preparations for the Games.” Full Press Release 18th July 2024 [https://www.britishequestrian.org.uk/news/paralympicsgb-announces-para-equestrian-squad-for-paris-2024-paralympic-games] A total of around 220 athletes from 19 sports are expected to make up the British team that will compete in Paris, with further names to be announced by ParalympicsGB in the coming days. At Tokyo 2020, ParalympicsGB won medals across a record breaking 18 different sports – the highest number of any nation ever. ParalympicsGB finished second on the medal table with 124 medals overall, including 41 gold, 38 silver and 45 bronze. The para equestrian competition will take place from 3–7 September in the scenic grounds of the Château de Versailles, just outside of Paris.

Natasha Baker OBE - ParalympicsGB announces para equestrian squad for Paris 2024 Paralympic Games

Natasha Baker (Grade 3) has been selected for her fourth Games and her second with Keystone Dawn Chorus. As a new partnership in Tokyo, they won team gold, individual silver and freestyle silver, adding to the five golds that Natasha previously won at London 2012 and Rio 2016. Baker, who is contesting her first Games as mother to one-year-old son Joshua, said: “I’m ecstatic to be part of the ParalympicsGB team heading to Paris. A lot has happened since Tokyo – not least the arrival of Joshua – and returning for what will be my fourth Paralympics Games, now as a mother, makes me incredibly proud. To be at the top of my sport again is such an incredible feeling, especially with him as my number one supporter. I’m so grateful to my team for enabling me to go through such an amazing journey over the last couple of years and supporting me more than ever before. I’m really excited for the new challenge and to see what Lottie [Keystone Dawn Chorus] and I can achieve in Paris.” Full Press Release 18th July 2024 [https://www.britishequestrian.org.uk/news/paralympicsgb-announces-para-equestrian-squad-for-paris-2024-paralympic-games] A total of around 220 athletes from 19 sports are expected to make up the British team that will compete in Paris, with further names to be announced by ParalympicsGB in the coming days. At Tokyo 2020, ParalympicsGB won medals across a record breaking 18 different sports – the highest number of any nation ever. ParalympicsGB finished second on the medal table with 124 medals overall, including 41 gold, 38 silver and 45 bronze. The para equestrian competition will take place from 3–7 September in the scenic grounds of the Château de Versailles, just outside of Paris.

Laura Collett - Team GB Equestrian Announcement - Paris 2024

with Karen Bartlett, Keith Scott and her own London 52 (bay, gelding, 14yrs, 16.3hh, Landos x Quinar, Breeder: Ocke Riewerts GER) Groom: Tilly Hughes