SOPHIE'S STORY
Sophie Christiansen CBE is a British dressage rider who has competed in four successive Paralympic Games and is an eight-time Paralympic champion and has won multiple World and European titles. In 2016, following her success at the Rio Paralympics, out of 16 household names she placed fifth in the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year - the highest placed female and para athlete.
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Sophie was born two months prematurely with Cerebral Palsy and suffered from other health problems including jaundice, blood poisoning, a heart attack and a collapsed lung. Aged 6, she started riding for physiotherapy at the local Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) group.
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She first competed at the Paralympics aged 16 and was the youngest athlete for Great Britain at the Athens Paralympics in 2004, coming away with an unexpected bronze medal.
Not just an athlete, Sophie also graduated with a First Class Masters degree in mathematics from Royal Holloway, University of London in 2011 and now works as a software developer at investment bank, Goldman Sachs.
Other notable milestones include:
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2024: Awarded Channel 4 Lifetime Achievement Award at the Variety Disability Sports Awards
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2017: Awarded CBE for services to para-equestrian
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2013: Awarded OBE for services to Equestrianism and for disability sport
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2012: Awarded Honorary Fellowship of Royal Holloway, University of London
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2008: Awarded MBE for services to Disabled Sport
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2008: Awarded Raymond Brooks-Ward Trophy for Most Outstanding Young Rider
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2004: BBC London Disabled Athlete of the year
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As with all athletes, Sophie has had significant support throughout her career and over that time Team Sophie has included many different individuals, organisations and horses who have contributed significantly to her success. A special thanks goes to the horses, owners and funders whom without none of the above would have been possible. These include Alan Carr MBE, Ronnie Wilkie and of course the people Sophie thanks most are her parents, family and fiancé, Peter.
Year | Championship | Horse | Horse Owner | Medals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | Rio Paralympics | Athene Lindebjerg | Di Redfern | 3 Golds |
2015 | European Para-Dressage - France | Athene Lindebjerg | Di Redfern | 3 Golds |
2014 | World Equestrian Games - France | Janerio 6 | Sophie | 2 Golds, 1 Silver |
2013 | European Para-Dressage - Denmark | Janerio 6 | Sophie | 3 Golds |
2012 | London Paralympics | Janerio 6 | Sophie | 3 Golds |
2010 | World Equestrian Games - Kentucky, USA | Rivaldo of Berkeley | The Berkeley Group | 2 Golds, 1 Silver |
2009 | European Championships - Norway | Lambrusco III | Para Training Trust | 2 Golds, 1 Silver |
2008 | Beijing Paralympics | Lambrusco III | Para Training Trust | 2 Golds, 1 Silver |
2007 | World Championships - UK | Gazel | Gill Drew | 1 Gold, 1 Bronze |
2005 | Para European Championships - Hungary | Martini Maybe | Pam Tottman | 3 Golds |
2004 | Athens Paralympics | Hotstuff | Nicola Tustain | 1 Bronze |