GEORGE Michele

Belgium
Equestrian
2 Jan 1974
47
Female
GV
WAREGEM
 
Belgium

Events and Medals

Discipline Event Rank Medal
EQU Equestrian Team Test to Music
BEL
Belgium
 5
Individual Test - Grade V 1 Gold Medal
Individual Freestyle Test - Grade V 1 Gold Medal

Schedule

Change
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

:
RankEventYearLocation
Paralympic Games
1Individual Freestyle Test - Grade IV2016Rio de Janeiro, BRA
1Individual Championship Test - Grade IV2012London, GBR
1Individual Freestyle Test - Grade IV2012London, GBR
2Individual Championship Test - Grade IV2016Rio de Janeiro, BRA
5Team Test to Music2016Rio de Janeiro, BRA
5Team Test to Music2012London, GBR
World Equestrian Games
1Individual Championship Test - Grade IV2014Caen, FRA
1Individual Freestyle Test - Grade IV2014Caen, FRA
2Individual Freestyle Test - Grade IV2010Lexington, KY, USA
5Team Test to Music2010Lexington, KY, USA
7Team Test to Music2014Caen, FRA
12Individual Championship Test - Grade IV2010Lexington, KY, USA
European Championships
3Individual Test - Grade V2019Rotterdam, NED
3Individual Freestyle Test - Grade V2019Rotterdam, NED
4Team Test to Music2019Rotterdam, NED
5Individual Test - Grade V2017Gothenburg, SWE
7Team Test to Music2017Gothenburg, SWE
ELIndividual Freestyle Test - Grade V2017Gothenburg, SWE
:
Athlete, Coach, Horse Trainer
:
Children Camille and Pierre-Paul
:
Dutch, English, French, German, Spanish
:
2009 for Belgium, European Championships in Norway (Athlete, 07 Aug 2012)
:
She began riding in 1986 at age 12 in Ostend, Belgium. "My mother wanted me to show horses one day, so we went to a small club where I sat on a horse for the first time. I was so impressed that I couldn't sleep. I was dreaming day and night of those wonderful animals." (Athlete, 07 Aug 2012)
:
After her accident, doctors told her that she may have to use a wheelchair for life. "At that time I had 20 horses at home. Throwing in the towel was not an option, so I decided to learn to stand up again [with crutches] and take some steps. A few weeks later I was riding again, and after around six months I entered a dressage competition and won. One of the judges then referred me to the national Para dressage coach." (michele-george.be, 03 Oct 2015)
:
"The sky is the limit. Live your life and follow your dreams." (michele-george.be, 11 Jan 2015; Athlete, 07 Aug 2012)
:
Along with goalball player Bruno Vanhove, she was named flag bearer for Belgium at the opening ceremony of the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (paralympic.be, 28 Jul 2021)

In 2012 she became the first Para rider to win the Equestrala award, which is presented to Belgium's Rider of the Year. (paralympic.org, 10 Dec 2012)

General Interest

Classification
GRADE V (FEI, 19 Aug 2021)

Origin of Impairment
Acquired (Athlete, 07 Aug 2012)

Impairment Details
In 2008 her left knee was shattered after she was kicked by a foal. The injury resulted in paralysis in her left leg. (hln.be, 30 Aug 2014; Athlete, 07 Aug 2012)

General
PARALYMPIC HORSE FAREWELL
In October 2019 her horse FBW Rainman passed away following a colic attack. Together they won two gold medals at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, and another gold at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. "What I remember most is that you were the one who inspired me day after day to climb out of that wheelchair. You were the one who taught me how to fight back, you showed me day after day that loving someone may never be a one way direction. There was that special thing called chemistry, something others never really understood." (eurodressage.com, 13 Oct 2019; Facebook profile, 13 Oct 2019)

Legend
:
Gold Medal
:
Gold Medal Event
:
Silver Medal Event
:
Bronze Medal Event
Content 1 (removed through CDN)
Content 2 (removed through CDN).
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