Philippa Johnson-Dwyer

Started: She first tried riding at age four at her uncle's stables, and took up Para dressage in 2002. (Athlete, 03 Jul 2012; philippajohnson.com, 07 Nov 2010) Reason: "I was born into a showjumping family, so I don't think I had much choice but to be in love with horses. But, with everything in life, something happens, and it's just about changing your goals. Learning to ride after my accident was obviously a very big challenge. After your initial pleasure of just being able to get back on a horse after the doctors told you, you'll never ride again, I think having been a competitive rider my whole life, you always want that little bit more." (The Insider SA YouTube channel, 21 Jan 2022; Athlete, 03 Jul 2012; philippajohnson.com, 07 Nov 2010) Milestones: At the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens she became the first South African equestrian dressage rider to win a Paralympic medal of any colour. Four years later at the 2008 Games in Beijing, she became the NPC's first equestrian Paralympic gold medallist. (SportsDeskOnline, 12 Jun 2020; city-press.news24.com, 03 Jun 2016) Additional Info: STABLES She runs Johnson-Dwyer Dressage in Bocholt, Belgium. (Facebook page, 01 Aug 2023) MOVE TO BELGIUM In 2002 she travelled to Belgium for her first Para equestrian competition. She then decided to stay in Belgium because of her interest in European warmblood horses. In 2003 she began training with coach Chris Haazen in Belgium ahead of the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens. "I first saw warmbloods on TV. They were like dream horses, their movement! But the first one I sat on was so heavy, bulky and strong. I thought, I'll never ride this. The guy who was arranging our horses looked at me and said there's a horse in the stables this girl would ride nicely, and he brought out this majestic chestnut gelding. Seeing Benedict for the first time was like watching liquid mercury move. He floated, he did not touch the ground. He was so beautiful. I sat on him and within five minutes I knew I was sitting on my Olympic horse." (mg.co.za, 06 Mar 2020; philippajohnson.com, 07 Sep 2014)

Sporting Relatives: Her husband James Dwyer won bronze in the mixed dressage team event for Ireland at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. Her late uncle Bill Johnson represented South Africa in jumping, and also served as a horse trainer and course designer. (paralympic.org, 29 Dec 2014; paralympic.org, 2016; horsetalk.co.nz, 02 Jun 2016)