MURPHY Michael

Ireland
Equestrian
22 Apr 1997
24
Male
GI
LONDON
 
Great Britain

Events and Medals

Discipline Event Rank Medal
EQU Equestrian Team Test to Music
IRL
Ireland
 12
Individual Test - Grade I 18

Schedule

Change
Start
Time		 Location Event Status
Equestrian Park
Dressage Individual Test - Grade I
Finished

Biographical Information

Highlights

:
RankEventYearLocation
European Championships
12Individual Test - Grade I2019Rotterdam, NED
13Team Test to Music2019Rotterdam, NED
:
Athlete
:
Biology - Warwick University, Great Britain
:
English
:
Michael Murphy Dressage [Great Britain]
:
Elder Klatzko [personal]
:
He had double spinal fusion surgery in 2011. (michaelmurphy.org.uk, 01 Sep 2018)
:
He began riding at age four at Penniwells Riding for the Disabled Centre in Elstree, England. (michaelmurphy.org.uk, 01 Sep 2018)
:
His physiotherapist introduced him to the sport as a form of therapy. "I was recommended the sport. My mother used to do showjumping when she was younger, so she already knew a little bit about horses. I just did it for fun. Then I got better and started competing in local shows. When I'm in my chair I'm limited but when I'm on my horse I can go anywhere and do anything and that sense of freedom is not really anything I get in any other aspect of life." (Paralympicsire YouTube channel, 07 Nov 2019; michaelmurphy.org.uk, 01 Sep 2018)
:
To win a gold medal at the Paralympic Games. (michaelmurphy.org.uk, 01 Sep 2018)
:
Competing and winning in his first overseas competition in Belgium as a junior. (michaelmurphy.org.uk, 01 Sep 2018)
:
He was a torch bearer on the relay from Harrow to Haringey in England ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games in London. (michaelmurphy.org.uk, 01 Sep 2018; harrydabbs.co.uk, 20 Aug 2018)

General Interest

Classification
GRADE I (FEI, 11 Jun 2020)

Type of Impairment
Impaired range of motion (michaelmurphy.org.uk, 07 Feb 2020)

Origin of Impairment
Congenital (michaelmurphy.org.uk, 07 Feb 2020)

Impairment Details
He was born with Dejerine-Sottas syndrome, an inherited neurological condition that gradually affects a person's ability to move. "The syndrome's very rare. The best way to explain is that it's similar to muscle wasting. It's a progressive muscle wasting impairment, but if you're working very hard and doing a lot of physio you can limit how much it progresses." (Baileys Horse Feeds Facebook page, 06 Mar 2020; michaelmurphy.org.uk, 07 Feb 2020; Paralympicsire YouTube channel, 07 Nov 2019)

General
ASSISTANCE
He has a team that prepare and warm up his horse prior to competitions. "I can't do the trot and canter, but the horse still needs to do that, it's an exercise. So, my trainer does all of that stuff, and at competitions she's allowed to warm up the horse for me. We have a very close relationship on making sure everything is finely tuned, and I'm kind of telling out the stuff I would want to be able to do on the horse, and then she's doing it. And then there's my personal assistant who helps throw me on the horse as well. There's a lot of hands and trusts. Everything has to be finely tuned, so it's quite important everyone knows their job and place. I'm very lucky I have fantastic support from my team." (Paralympicsire YouTube channel, 07 Nov 2019)

Legend
:
Gold Medal Event
:
Silver Medal Event
:
Bronze Medal Event
Content 1 (removed through CDN)
Content 2 (removed through CDN).
Timing and scoring provided by OMEGA. Results powered by Atos