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Pointing her horse at Rio

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South African Paralympic dressage competitor Philippa Johnson-Dwyer did not let a broken back put her off  PHOTO: Simon Bertrand
South African Paralympic dressage competitor Philippa Johnson-Dwyer did not let a broken back put her off PHOTO: Simon Bertrand

She might be our lone Paralympic dressage competitor, but that will not deter Philippa Johnson-Dwyer from giving her best at the international showcase later this year.

Johnson-Dwyer (41) qualified for an individual spot at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics in September during a competition in Mannheim, Germany, last week.

She is classified as a Grade III competitor for Dressage SA and competed alongside two other South Africans: Shani de Beer (23), classified Grade II, and Tamsin Mbatsha-Bouwer (17) classified Grade Ib.

All three competitors achieved their minimum eligibility scores for the Rio Paralympic Games, but only Johnson-Dwyer will be able to compete at the Paralympics now.

Johnson-Dwyer was disabled after a car accident in 1998, losing all strength in her right arm and 60% in her right leg. Within a year, she’d learnt to ride again, this time though with a severe handicap. Shortly afterwards, and just a day before an important competition, she tried to mount her horse without help, lost her balance and fell, breaking her back.

In spite of this classification, Spinal Cord Injuries Grade III, she has become a successful international para-equestrian.

She returns home to South Africa each year for about six weeks to give 10-day clinics at her uncle’s stables at Ascot. She aims to represent South Africa in dressage globally, returning home finally to teach dressage.

“This year has been incredible so far – I’ve had Lord Louis for four years and he is by far the most talented horse I’ve worked with, but undoubtedly the most difficult. He suddenly seems to be coming into his own now, though, so all the blood, sweat and tears have been worth it!” she told the Times.

She will be riding Lord Louis at the Rio Paralympics.

Johnson-Dwyer was a double gold medallist at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games and took silver in the Athens Paralympics 2004.

She won the first Paralympic equestrian gold medal for South Africa at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.

. In Para-Equestrian Dressage there are five grades for riders with physical and visual impairments, which have been developed by the Fédération Équestre International.

Johnson-Dwyer qualifies in the Grade II: Physical impairments category.

Riders in Grade II have a very limited ability in both lower limbs, with a good trunk balance, or milder limitations in upper and lower limbs with reduced trunk control. For example, an athlete with a severe impairment in one arm and one leg on opposite sides and good trunk and hip control is likely to compete in Grade II. Some riders in this class use a wheelchair in daily life.

. Meanwhile, the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee announced that three sailors will be competing in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

Asenathi Jim, Roger Hudson (470) and Stefano Marcia (Laser) will all be competing in Rio when the Games get under way from August 5 to 21.

This will be Jim and Hudson’s second Olympic Games.

“We are absolutely thrilled that three of our sailors will be representing the country in Rio this August,” said SA Sailing chairman Peter Hall. – City Press correspondent

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