van HAM Kevin

Date of Birth: 22 Jul 1989

Age: 32

Gender: Male

Sport Class: GV

Events and Medals
Records
Schedule
Bio
General Interest
Milestones

Events and Medals

Discipline	Event	Rank	Medal
Equestrian	Team Test to Music
	Individual Test - Grade V	7
	Individual Freestyle Test - Grade V	8

Schedule

Start Time	Location	Event	Status
	Equestrian Park	Dressage Individual Test - Grade V	Finished
	Equestrian Park	Dressage Individual Freestyle Test - Grade V	Finished

Biographical Information

Highlights

Rank	Event	Year	Location
European Championships
4	Team Test to Music	2019	Rotterdam, NED
5	Individual Test - Grade V	2019	Rotterdam, NED
5	Individual Freestyle Test - Grade V	2019	Rotterdam, NED

Occupation:

Athlete, Horse Trainer, Shop Assistant

Languages spoken:

Dressuurstal Verwimp [Wiekevorst, BEL]

Jorinde Verwimp [personal], BEL

He took up the sport at age 12 at a local riding school. He initially trained with and competed against able-bodied riders while preparing his horse to compete in Para equestrian. He began competing in Para equestrian in 2017. (fei.org, 20 Jun 2020; Quadrille Facebook page, 14 Apr 2018)

To compete at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (fei.org, 20 Jun 2020)

He trains four or five times a week. (fei.org, 20 Jun 2020)

Belgian Para equestrian dressage rider Michele George. (fei.org, 20 Jun 2020)

He always prepares and saddles his horse by himself, and he has a pair of lucky socks and underwear that he sometimes wears. "I like to braid my horse myself on competition day and I also pin a lucky charm I was given by my groom on the fly hat of my horse." (fei.org, 20 Jun 2020; Quadrille Facebook page, 14 Apr 2018)

Philosophy:

"Live your life to the fullest. Don't let people bring you down. If you want something, go and work hard for it. And let the people who want to help you, help you. Learn from every second in life." (Quadrille Facebook page, 14 Apr 2018)

He was a member of the Belgian Para dressage team that received the Jury's Trophy at the 2020 Equigala of the Belgian Equestrian Federation. (philippaerts.be, 22 Jan 2020)

General Interest

Classification
GRADE V (FEI, 18 May 2021)

Type of Impairment
Limb deficiency (paralympic.be, 01 Jan 2019)

Origin of Impairment
Congenital (parantee-psylos.be, 01 Oct 2019)

Impairment Details
He is missing his left arm below the elbow. "When I was in the womb, the umbilical cord was caught around my arm and it didn't grow properly." (fei.org, 20 Jun 2020; paralympic.be, 01 Jan 2019)

General
BREAK
At the end of 2014 his horse Eros suffered a broken jaw and an injured leg, so van Ham took a break from the sport while his horse recovered. The pair returned to competition at the 2016 Winter Cup in Diepenbeek, Belgium. "We don't know what happened, but Eros was stuck with his leg between the bars of the door. After three operations, fortunately Eros is almost back to normal. I am not going to force anything, because I am very happy that we can appear again together." (fei.org, 20 Jun 2020; Quadrille Facebook page, 14 Apr 2018; nieuwsblad.be, 02 Mar 2016)

Social Media

Legend

:: Gold Medal Event
:: Silver Medal Event
:: Bronze Medal Event

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