Lee Pearson

Sir David Lee Pearson (born 4 February 1974) is a Paralimpic champion on horse riding. He won fourteen gold medals. He is called the "Godfather" of para-dressage.

 Early life 
Lee Pearson was born on 4 February 1974 in , England, with a medical condition called . In 1980, when he was 6, Margaret Thatcher carried (lifted) him up the stairs in 10 Downing Street. Thatcher also gave him the "Children of Courage" award.

 Career 
He wanted to go to the Paralympic Games since he watched the 1996 Summer Paralympics.

Pearson won three gold medals at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney, three golds at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, and three more golds at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing. He and his horse Gentleman won a gold, a silver and a bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London. He and his horse Zion won a gold and a silver at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. He and his horse Breezer won three gold medals at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo. Pearson raised Breezer since he was a foal (baby horse).

 Personal life 
Pearson is gay. He was the first British Paralympic champion to come out, when he was 20. He is also a LGBTQ+ rights activist.

 Related pages 
 Natasha Baker – another English para-equestrian
 Sophie Wells – another English para-equestrian

 References 

 Other websites 



Category:1974 births
Category:British dressage riders
Category:British LGBT rights activists
Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
Category:English equestrians
Category:English LGBT people
Category:Gay men
Category:Knights Bachelor
Category:LGBT sportspeople
Category:Living people
Category:Paralympic bronze medalists for Great Britain
Category:Paralympic equestrians for Great Britain
Category:Paralympic gold medalists for Great Britain
Category:Paralympic silver medalists for Great Britain
Category:People from Staffordshire
Category:2000 Summer Paralympics
Category:2004 Summer Paralympics
Category:Competitors at the 2012 Summer Paralympics
Category:Competitors at the 2016 Summer Paralympics