PEARSON Lee

Date of Birth: 4 Feb 1974

Age: 47

Gender: Male

Sport Class: GII

Place of birth: LEEK

Birth Country:

Great Britain

Place of residence : STOKE-ON-TRENT

Residence Country:

Great Britain

Events and Medals
Records
Schedule
Bio
General Interest
Milestones

Events and Medals

Discipline	Event	Rank	Medal
Equestrian	Team Test to Music GBR Great Britain	1
	Individual Test - Grade II	1
	Individual Freestyle Test - Grade II	1

Schedule

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

Biographical Information

Highlights

Rank	Event	Year	Location
Paralympic Games
1	Individual Freestyle Test - Grade Ib	2016	Rio de Janeiro, BRA
1	Team Test to Music	2012	London, GBR
1	Team Test to Music	2008	Beijing, CHN
1	Individual Championship Test - Grade Ib	2008	Beijing, CHN
1	Individual Freestyle Test - Grade Ib	2008	Beijing, CHN
1	Team Test to Music	2004	Athens, GRE
1	Individual Championship Test - Grade I	2004	Athens, GRE
1	Individual Freestyle - Grade I	2004	Athens, GRE
1	Team Test to Music	2000	Sydney, NSW, AUS
1	Individual Championship Test - Grade I	2000	Sydney, NSW, AUS
1	Individual Freestyle - Grade I	2000	Sydney, NSW, AUS
2	Individual Championship Test - Grade Ib	2016	Rio de Janeiro, BRA
2	Individual Championship Test - Grade Ib	2012	London, GBR
3	Individual Freestyle Test - Grade Ib	2012	London, GBR
World Equestrian Games
1	Team Test to Music	2014	Caen, FRA
1	Individual Championship Test - Grade Ib	2014	Caen, FRA
1	Individual Freestyle Test - Grade Ib	2014	Caen, FRA
1	Team Test to Music	2010	Lexington, KY, USA
1	Individual Championship Test - Grade Ib	2010	Lexington, KY, USA
1	Individual Freestyle Test - Grade Ib	2010	Lexington, KY, USA
2	Team Test to Music	2018	Tryon, NC, USA
EL	Individual Test - Grade II	2018	Tryon, NC, USA

Occupation:

Athlete, Horse Trainer, Public Speaker

Partner Richard

Languages spoken:

SCF Equestrian [Stoke-on-Trent, GBR]

In September 2011 he tripped over a chicken and cracked one of his ribs. (paralympic.org, 21 May 2012)

In June 2011 he broke his back in four places when he fell from his horse. (paralympic.org, 21 May 2012)

He has broken his collarbone during his sporting career. (bbc.co.uk, 14 Feb 2021)

National team:

1999 (equestrianteamgbr.co.uk, 07 Sep 2014)

He first took riding lessons at age eight. Banned from joining his two elder brothers on their BMX bikes, his parents bought him Sally the donkey on which to ride around the paddock. (equestrianteamgbr.co.uk, 12 Aug 2010)

"Somebody told me I probably wouldn't be good enough to do it, and that was like a red flag to a bull. So I'm grateful to that person for telling me I wasn't good enough because it gave me more desire to get out there and kick arse. When I grew up I got an office job. I'm actually allergic to horses, but I'm even more allergic to paperwork. Doing something I hated made me realise I really wanted to do dressage. Then I watched the 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta and I got the dressage bug. It's not just about posh people, it's about building a partnership with an animal." (mirror.co.uk, 31 Aug 2012; rainbownetwork.com, 17 Oct 2008)

To compete at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (hartpuryfestivalofdressage.co.uk, 26 Jun 2019)

Being named flag bearer for Great Britain at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (bbc.co.uk, 14 Feb 2021)

German dressage rider Ulla Salzgeber. (equestrianteamgbr.co.uk, 12 Aug 2010)

Philosophy:

"Control the controllables. That's from my sports psychologist. People get fed up in life about different things, but there's no point getting fed up about something you can't control." (channel4.com, 21 Sep 2010)

He was given a knighthood in the 2017 New Year's Honours list in recognition of his service to equestrianism and Paralympic sport. (paralympic.org, 31 Dec 2016)

He was flag bearer for Great Britain at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (myinfo.rio2016.com, 06 Sep 2016)

In recognition of his equestrian success and services to Paralympic sport, he was named Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire [MBE] in 2001, Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire [OBE] in 2005 and then Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire [CBE] in 2009. He was also the recipient of an honorary doctorate from Staffordshire University in England in 2005. (leepearson.co.uk, 12 Aug 2010)

He was inducted into the British Horse Society Hall of Fame in 2005. (leepearson.co.uk, 30 Dec 2004)

He was voted the 2004 BBC Midlands Sports Personality of the Year, and won The Daily Telegraph newspaper's Sportsman of 2004 Award. (leepearson.co.uk, 30 Dec 2004)

He received a Children of Courage Award in 1980. (leepearson.co.uk, 30 Dec 2004)

General Interest

Classification
GRADE II (FEI, 11 Jun 2020)

Type of Impairment
Impaired range of motion (leepearson.co.uk, 12 Aug 2010)

Origin of Impairment
Congenital (leepearson.co.uk, 12 Aug 2010)

Impairment Details
He was born with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita. The condition affects the flexibility of his joints. (leepearson.co.uk, 12 Aug 2010)

General
COMING OUT
He says that he experienced mental health issues, including suicidal thoughts, related to his coming out as gay at age 20. "I had to fight that inner battle and for me, I felt hatred rather than shame. You can control the way you think but you can't control the way you feel. I considered suicide and really struggled with myself. It was an interesting, stressful and sad period. I have been open about my struggles about coming out and have received numerous emails from people over the years saying I have helped save their life by just being me, which is a massive compliment. I've always held my head up high when it comes to my disability, and it has helped with my sexuality that I can joke about both, sometimes inappropriately. As British Paralympians, we lead the world in strong messaging about the acceptance of disability. Sexuality is just another add-on to that. Paralympic sport, and the British team in particular, can be very proud we are a strong group of unique characters." (bbc.co.uk, 14 Feb 2021)

BOOK
In early 2021 his autobiography 'I Am Who I Am' was printed ahead of its planned publication later that year. (Instagram profile, 12 Feb 2021; awaywithmedia.com, 01 Jan 2021)

BREAK FROM COMPETITION
He spent the majority of 2017 away from competition while trying to gain planning permission to build his own riding arena. (paralympic.org, 25 Jan 2018)

Social Media

Legend

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

Timing and scoring provided by OMEGA. Results powered by Atos