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Michèle George

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Michèle George
Image of George smiling while holding two gold medals
George at the 2012 Summer Paralympics
Personal information
NationalityBelgian
DisciplinePara-dressage
Born2 January 1974 (1974-01-02) (age 50)
Ostend, Belgium
Horse(s)
  • Fbw Rainman
  • Best of 8
Medal record
Para-equestrian
Representing  Belgium
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Paralympic Games 7 1 0
World Games 4 1 0
Total 11 2 0
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2012 London Individual championship test grade IV
Gold medal – first place 2012 London Individual freestyle test grade IV
Gold medal – first place 2016 Rio Individual freestyle test grade IV
Gold medal – first place 2020 Tokyo Individual championship test grade V
Gold medal – first place 2020 Tokyo Individual freestyle test grade V
Gold medal – first place 2024 Paris Individual championship test grade V
Gold medal – first place 2024 Paris Individual freestyle test grade V
Silver medal – second place 2016 Rio Individual championship test grade IV
World Games
Gold medal – first place 2014 Caen Individual championship test grade IV
Gold medal – first place 2014 Caen Individual freestyle test grade IV
Gold medal – first place 2022 Herning Individual championship test grade V
Gold medal – first place 2022 Herning Individual freestyle test grade V
Silver medal – second place 2010 Lexington Individual freestyle test grade IV

Michèle George (born 2 January 1974) is a Paralympic equestrian of Belgium. She won seven gold and one silver medal at the Paralympic Games.[1]

She was named "Belgian Paralympian of the Year" twice: in 2014[2] and in 2022.[3]

Early life

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Michèle George was born on 2 January 1974 in Ostend, West Flanders, Belgium. She began riding horses in 1982, when she was 12 years old, starting on racehorses and then trying show jumping. She eventually met a dressage rider, tried the discipline and "fell in love with it".[4]

Career

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After a horse-riding accident happened in 2008 that caused her to have hemiplegia in her left leg,[5] she started competing in grade IV para-dressage.

George competed at the 2009 European Championship, where she finished second. She then competed with her gelding Fbw Rainman at the 2010 World Equestrian Games, finishing second in the individual freestyle para-dressage test.[6]

In 2012, George and Fbw Rainman participated in the London Summer Paralympics, where they won two gold medals in the individual championship and in the individual freestyle test, making her the first winner of a gold medal in para-dressage for Belgium.[5] In the same year, she also became the first Paralympian to win the Equestrala (Belgium's equestrian of the year award).[7]

With the same horse, she competed at the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games, finishing first in individual para-dressage and in freestyle.[8]

In 2016, she and Fbw Rainman won a gold medal in the individual freestyle and a silver one in the individual championship test at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games.[1]

She then went from grade IV to grade V para-dressage.

In 2021, George and her new mare Best Of 8 went to the Tokyo Paralympic Games, where they won two gold medals in the individual championship and in the freestyle test.[9][10]

With the same horse, she took part in the 2022 FEI World Equestrian Games, ending up in first place in individual para-dressage and in freestyle. In 2024, they went to the Paris Paralympic Games, winning two more gold medals in the individual championship and freestyle tests.[11]

Personal life

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George has two children and she rides horses with one of them.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Michèle George". International Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on 17 January 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  2. ^ Belgian Paralympic Comittee (16 December 2014). "Michèle George named Belgian Paralympian of the Year". International Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  3. ^ Equnews Editorial (7 January 2023). "Michèle George is Paralympiër van het jaar 2022!". Equnews (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
    Sharon (7 January 2023). "Michèle George est l'athlète paralympique de l'année 2022 !". Equnews (in French). Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  4. ^ a b Howell, Robert (24 August 2015). "Get to know world, Paralympic equestrian champion Michele George". International Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on 26 August 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  5. ^ a b IPC (24 November 2012). "No. 38: Belgium's George pulls in double surprise". International Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on 24 September 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  6. ^ "World Equestrian Games 2010". International Federation for Equestrian Sports. Archived from the original on 30 January 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  7. ^ IPC (10 December 2012). "George wins Belgium's Equestrala award". International Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on 8 August 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  8. ^ "World Equestrian Games 2014". International Federation for Equestrian Sports. Archived from the original on 30 January 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  9. ^ Faulkner, Ruth (30 August 2021). "Animal connection leads to Para equestrian double gold for Belgium's Michele George". International Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  10. ^ "Dressuuramazones Michèle George en Manon Claeys: "Super onthaald" (in Dutch). Sporza. 2 September 2021. Archived from the original on 2 September 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  11. ^ IPC (11 September 2024). "Paris 2024: Best Para equestrian moments". International Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on 11 September 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
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