Georgia Wilson (equestrian)

Last updated

Georgia Wilson
Personal information
Born (1995-10-02) 2 October 1995 (age 28)
Abergele, Wales
Sport
CountryUnited Kingdom
Sport Equestrian
Disability class Grade II
Event Dressage
Achievements and titles
Paralympic finals 2020
Regional finals 2019
Medal record
Representing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
Paralympic Games
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2024 Paris Individual freestyle test grade II
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2020 Tokyo Individual championship test grade II
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2020 Tokyo Individual freestyle test grade II
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg2024 Paris Individual championship test grade II
European Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2019 Rotterdam Individual championship test grade II
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2019 Rotterdam Individual freestyle test grade II

Georgia Wilson (born 2 October 1995) [1] is a British equestrian, who won bronze medals in the individual championship test grade II and individual freestyle test grade II events at the 2020 Summer Paralympics, and the Individual championship test grade II event at the 2024 Summer Paralympics. She also won the individual championship grade II event at the 2019 FEI European Championships.

Contents

Early life

Wilson is from Abergele, Wales. [2] She started riding aged two as her mother was advised it would help with her balance as she has cerebral palsy. [3] She attended Rydal Penrhos in Colwyn Bay. [4]

Career

Wilson started training in Clwyd, Wales, [3] and she is trained by fellow British dressage competitor Sophie Wells. [5] She competed at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games. [6] In January 2019, Wilson was one of six para-dressage competitors given National Lottery funding for the period from 2019 to 2021. [7] That year, she competed 2019 FEI European Championships, her first European Championships, on the horse Midnight. [8] At the Championships, Wilson won the individual freestyle grade II event, [4] [9] and also came second in the individual championship test grade II event and team events. [10] In September 2020, Wilson started competing with horse Sakura, [9] also known as Suki. [11]

Wilson was not initially selected for the delayed 2020 Summer Paralympics; instead, she was the team's reserve. [9] On 12 August 2021, she was called up to the British Paralympic equestrian team, replacing Sophie Christiansen whose horse was injured. [2] [12] It was her first Paralympic Games, [9] and the first major championship event for Sakura. [11] At the Games, Wilson won bronze medals in the individual championship test grade II [2] [13] and individual freestyle test grade II events. [14] At one point in the individual championship event, Wilson was winning the event, [9] and her individual championship medal was the first for a Welsh person at the Games. [15] Her individual test score of 72.765 was only just behind Austria's Pepo Puch, who finished second in the event. [16]

Wilson was selected for the 2024 Summer Paralympics, again with horse Sakura. [17] She came third in the individual championship grade II event. [18]

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References

  1. "WILSON Georgia". Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "Abergele equestrian star Georgia Wilson reveals her one amusing regret after bagging brilliant Paralympic bronze". Wales Online . 26 August 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Georgia Wilson". British Equestrian Federation . Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Wilson claims second Paralympic bronze medal for Team GB in Tokyo". Rhyl Journal. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  5. "It's been a year of impressive feats in Para Dressage..." International Federation for Equestrian Sports. 28 December 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  6. "Para-Dressage Squad for World Equestrian Games confirmed". Paralympics GB. 25 July 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  7. "World class athletes selected for equestrian 2019-2021 squad". British Show Jumping. 11 January 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  8. "Championship debutante claims Britain's first medal of the Europeans". Horse & Hound . 21 August 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Georgia Wilson takes early lead for Britain on first day of Paralympic dressage". Horse & Hound . 26 August 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  10. "'This will take a week to feel real': Britain's Georgia Wilson becomes European champion". Horse & Hound . 25 August 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  11. 1 2 "Georgia Wilson". Paralympics GB . Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  12. "Change in the Paralympic dressage squad". Paralympics GB. 12 August 2021.
  13. "Results". Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  14. "Abergele equestrian Georgia Wilson adds bronze in dream Paralympic debut". Wales Online . 30 August 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  15. "Georgia Wilson's family 'very proud' after she claimed Wales' first medal of Paralympics". ITV . 27 August 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  16. "Paralympics: Singapore's Maximillian Tan finishes 11th of 12 riders in dressage event". The Straits Times . 26 August 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  17. "ParalympicsGB announces Para equestrian squad for Paris 2024 Paralympic Games". Paralympics GB. 18 July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  18. "Paralympic bronze for Baker and Wilson". British Dressage. 3 September 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.