Lee Pearson was born in Cheddleton, Staffordshire in 1974 and is a multiple gold medallist in the sport of para dressage.
He was born with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita which severely restricts movement of the joints and, despite many operations, Lee can’t move his ankles or knees, so he controls horses using his hips. Lee first came to public attention in 1980 when British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher carried him up stairs in 10 Downing Street having awarded him a 'Children of Courage' medal.
Lee discovered para dressage when he was 18, while watching the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics on TV. Lee's many achievements in dressage include: three gold medals in the championship dressage, freestyle dressage, and team dressage events at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Summer Paralympics - setting an equestrian world record by being unbeaten at three consecutive Paralympic Games. He won gold in the team dressage event at the 2012 Summer Paralympics, silver in the championship dressage and bronze in the freestyle.
In 2003, he became the only disabled person to have won a title at the British Dressage National Championships competing against able-bodied riders when he took the 2003 elementary restricted title.
Lee holds a number of honours and was awarded an honorary Doctorate from Staffordshire University in July 2005. He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2001 New Year Honours for services to disabled sports, Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2005 New Year Honours for services to equestrianism and to disabled sport, and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2009 New Year Honours for services to equestrianism and to disabled sport. He was knighted in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to equestrianism.
