Rio 2016 Paralympics: Competition Wraps Up With Freestyles

The para-dressage events at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games wrapped up on Sept. 16.
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Three London 2012 freestyle titles were successfully defended in the para-dressage competition of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games on Sept. 16.

Belgium’s Michèle George retained hers in the Grade IV competition on what was her last championship ride on FBW Rainman, the horse that has taken her to two Fédération Equestre Internationale World Equestrian Games titles and three Paralympic gold medals. George beat individual championship test winner Sophie Wells (GBR) into second place with a score of 76.300% to Well’s 76.350%. The Netherlands’ Frank Hosmar took the bronze.

“I’m overwhelmed at the moment because I really wanted to have that medal,” George said. “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.’ … At one moment I was laughing because I knew it was my last ride with him in this big arena, in Rio, in Brazil. It was really a dream come true.”

Great Britain’s Sophie Christiansen became her country’s first triple gold medalist of these Games when she won the Grade Ia freestyle. Christiansen scored 79.700% on Athene Lindebjerg with team mate Anne Dunham taking the silver and Brazil’s Sergio Oliva winning another bronze

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