Rodolpho Riskalla

Started: He first tried dressage when he was a child. He took a break from the sport following his illness before getting involved in dressage again in early 2016. (Canadian Horse Journal YouTube channel, 03 Aug 2016; chsa.com.br, 01 Jul 2016) Reason: His family own horses and his mother is a dressage coach and judge. (Canadian Horse Journal YouTube channel, 03 Aug 2016; chsa.com.br, 01 Jul 2016) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (fei.org, 11 May 2020; parasapo.tokyo, 19 Feb 2020) Milestones: He became the first Para dressage rider representing Brazil to win a medal at the world championships when he claimed silver in both the grade IV individual and freestyle events at the 2018 World Equestrian Games [WEG] in Tryon, NC, United States of America. (SportsDeskOnline, 05 Nov 2018; porforadaspistas.com.br, 19 Sep 2018) Awards: In 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022 he was named Para Equestrian Rider of the Year by the Brazilian Paralympic Committee [CPB]. (prefeitura.sp.gov.br, 11 Feb 2022; momentoequestre.com.br, 19 Dec 2018; porforadaspistas.com.br, 18 Dec 2019; cpb.org.br, 01 Dec 2023) He was presented with the Against All Odds Award at the 2016 International Equestrian Federation [FEI] Awards. (fei.org, 22 Nov 2016) Additional Info: RETURN TO DRESSAGE Previously a non-Para dressage rider, he decided to retire from the sport in 2014 after disappointing results. He then was hired as a horse trainer in France and began working for luxury goods company Christian Dior. He began competing in Para dressage in January 2016 with a borrowed horse. His motivation was to qualify for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and he was eventually selected to represent Brazil at the event. "It's important to have goals. I was dreaming of making the Olympic Games but then I said, 'Why not the Paralympics?' My mother told me, 'Okay, the Paralympics, you have four years to do it', and I told her, 'No, I want to go to the Paralympics this year'." (parasapo.tokyo, 19 Feb 2020; SportsDeskOnline, 10 Sep 2018; Canadian Horse Journal YouTube channel, 03 Aug 2016) OCCUPATION He has worked as an events manager for luxury goods company Christian Dior in Paris, France. "I started in the store but now work in the event bureau helping to organise art exhibitions. They have been really supportive of me throughout my illness and now they sponsor me at the shows I want to compete in. In the run-up to the [2018] World Equestrian Games, for example, I didn't work in the office for a month. We had a big celebration when I got back though." (Athlete, 30 Aug 2024; fei.org, 11 May 2020, 07 Mar 2019; paralympic.org, 02 Nov 2018, 03 May 2018) OTHER ROLES In 2022 he was named to the Para equestrian committee of the International Equestrian Federation for the 2022-26 period. (adestramentobrasil.com, 11 Nov 2022)

Sporting Relatives: His mother Rosangele Riskalla has worked as a dressage coach and judge. His sister Victoria represented Brazil in dressage at the 2010 Young Riders World Cup Final in Frankfurt, Germany. (chsa.com.br, 01 Jul 2016; porforadaspistas.com.br, 19 Sep 2018; eurodressage.com, 12 May 2010)