CLAEYS Manon

Date of Birth: 3 Jan 1986

Age: 35

Gender: Female

Sport Class: GIV

Place of residence : MALDEGEM

Residence Country:

Belgium

Events and Medals
Records
Schedule
Bio
General Interest
Milestones

Events and Medals

Discipline	Event	Rank	Medal
Equestrian	Team Test to Music BEL Belgium	5
	Individual Test - Grade IV	3
	Individual Freestyle Test - Grade IV	3

Schedule

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

Biographical Information

Highlights

Rank	Event	Year	Location
World Equestrian Games
4	Individual Test - Grade IV	2018	Tryon, NC, USA
5	Individual Freestyle Test - Grade IV	2018	Tryon, NC, USA
6	Team Test to Music	2018	Tryon, NC, USA
European Championships
2	Individual Test - Grade IV	2019	Rotterdam, NED
2	Individual Test - Grade IV	2017	Gothenburg, SWE
3	Individual Freestyle Test - Grade IV	2019	Rotterdam, NED
4	Team Test to Music	2019	Rotterdam, NED
4	Individual Freestyle Test - Grade IV	2017	Gothenburg, SWE
7	Team Test to Music	2017	Gothenburg, SWE

Occupation:

Athlete, Horse Trainer

Partner Samuel De Pauw

Languages spoken:

Michele George, BEL

She began riding at age five on a pony in Oedelem, Belgium. She took up Para equestrian dressage at age 23. (vrt.be, 12 Aug 2021; eurodressage.com, 12 Jul 2020)

"Since I was a child I was very keen on sports. My parents encouraged me to practise a huge variety of them. But from the beginning I had a clear idea, and at about age four I told my parents that I wanted to ride a pony. That's how I began." (puissance.com, 03 Mar 2021; Paralympic Team Belgium YouTube channel, 19 Aug 2020)

To compete at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (vrt.be, 12 Aug 2021)

"I go to the dietician every month, I go to the gym every day - in normal circumstances - to be as strong as possible, and I am supervised by [personal trainer] Kristof Huts. He writes out schedules for my posture and sitting, and directs my cardio and strength workouts. I also go to the sports psychologist once a month - not only for my accident, but also because as a top athlete there is quite a bit of pressure on your shoulders." (puissance.com, 03 Mar 2021)

Belgian Para dressage rider Michele George. (eurodressage.com, 12 Jul 2020)

Philosophy:

"It sounds cliche, but you really have to try to take a positive out of every day. There is no point in hiding and drowning yourself in self-pity and sadness. No matter how bad your situation is, you have to take your destiny into your own hands and go for it." (puissance.com, 03 Mar 2021)

General Interest

Classification
GRADE IV (FEI, 17 Aug 2021)

Origin of Impairment
Acquired (Quadrille Facebook page, 20 Mar 2018)

Impairment Details
In 2007 she fell off her boyfriend's horse, fracturing her beck and breaking three vertebrae in her back. "I have nerve damage on my right side, my arm and my leg. I have only 30% power on that side of my body." She spent two years in rehabilitation. (Paralympic Team Belgium YouTube channel, 19 Aug 2020; Quadrille Facebook page, 20 Mar 2018; puissance.com, 03 Mar 2021)

General
FINDING PERSPECTIVE
In hospital after her fall in 2007, she said she came to realise how lucky she was to survive and still have mobility after her grandmother showed her a news report about a rider who had become paralysed after a fall. "That got me thinking: 'I don't have to complain, because it could have been a lot worse. I didn't even end up in a wheelchair,' I thought to myself. I don't want to whine because it could be much worse. I am especially grateful that I can still walk and actually do what I have always loved to do." (vrt.be, 12 Aug 2021; sporza.be, 30 Jun 2021)

RETURN TO RIDING
She says she took a more cautious approach when she returned to riding after her accident. "We normally had jumping horses at home, but after my fall my parents and I decided to buy dressage horses. When I had strengthened enough to climb back into the saddle, there were many mixed feelings. The first time I got up on a horse, tears rolled down my cheeks. A first, logical reaction, but it was intense. Fortunately, things got better and better after that. I have processed my trauma, but in the back of your mind you will of course remain cautious. For example, we now attach great importance to mounting, since that's how my accident happened. And if I'm going to try a new horse, I'll be extra careful. Moreover, I always follow my gut feeling. If I don't trust it 100%, I just don't do it." (puissance.com, 03 Mar 2021)

Social Media

Legend

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

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