Michele George

Started: 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) Reason: She was determined to continue riding after her accident, which involved a horse. "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) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (rtbf.be, 09 Aug 2022) Milestones: She became the first Belgian rider to win a gold medal in dressage at the Paralympic Games when she and her horse FBW Rainman placed first in the grade IV open individual championship test at the 2012 Games in London. (SportsDeskOnline, 06 Sep 2018; fei.org, 02 Sep 2012) Awards: She was named Athlete of the Year for both 2021 and 2022 at the Equestrian Sports Gala in Belgium. (sporza.be, 18 Jan 2023; equnews.com, 08 Mar 2022) She received the 2021 Paralympic Sport Award from the Belgian Paralympic Committee in recognition of her two gold medals at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (sporza.be, 15 Feb 2022) 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) Additional Info: 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." (sporza.be, 20 Aug 2021; eurodressage.com, 13 Oct 2019; Facebook profile, 13 Oct 2019) OTHER ACTIVITIES She has worked as a dressage instructor. In 2023 she became chair of the Flemish Agency for Accessibility. (vrt.be, 06 Apr 2023; rtbf.be, 06 Feb 2023)