Sophie Christiansen
Sophie Christiansen CBE is a four-time Paralympic gold medallist in Grade I para-dressage and one of the most decorated British disabled athletes of the 21st century. Born in 1987 in Berkshire with cerebral palsy, she began riding aged six through the Riding for the Disabled Association and made her Paralympic debut at Athens 2004 aged 16.
London 2012 — the treble
Christiansen’s defining campaign came at the home London 2012 Paralympics, where she swept all three Grade Ia events — team, individual and freestyle — to take three gold medals. The performance made her the outstanding para-dressage rider of the Games and a household name in British sport.
She repeated the feat at Rio 2016 with Athene Lindebjerg, adding team, individual and freestyle gold to her collection. She continued to represent Team GBR at Tokyo 2020.
Mathematics and dressage
Christiansen is unusual in the Paralympic ranks for combining world-class sport with a rigorous academic career — she holds a PhD in Mathematics and has worked as a statistician in the City of London alongside her competitive riding.
Championship Record
- Paralympic Games: 4× gold, plus multiple silvers and bronzes across Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020
- World Championships: Multi-time individual and team champion
- European Championships: Multiple team and individual titles
Christiansen was appointed MBE in 2009 and CBE in 2017 for services to equestrian sport. She is an active mentor in the World Class Programme Para-Equestrian pathway.
Horses associated with Sophie Christiansen
- Janeiro 6 — London 2012 triple gold
- Athene Lindebjerg — Rio 2016 triple gold
- Innuendo III — Tokyo 2020 mount