View source for Lee Pearson

{{Short description|British Paralympic equestrian}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{For|the Australian tennis player|Lee Pearson (tennis)}}
{{Infobox equestrian
| honorific_prefix = [[Knight Bachelor|Sir]]
| name = Lee Pearson
| honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|CBE}}
| image = Lee Pearson, October 2008.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| alt = Photo of Pearson wearing three gold medals
| caption = Pearson in 2008
| full_name = David Lee Pearson
| discipline = [[Para-dressage]]
| birth_date = {{Birth-date and age|4 February 1974}}
| birth_place = [[Cheddleton]], England
| horse = {{Plainlist|
* Gentleman
* Zion
* B. Grandeur
* Styletta
* Roughcote Jupiter
* Breezer
}}
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport | [[Para-equestrian]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{GBR2}}}}
{{MedalCount | total=no
 | [[Equestrian events at the Summer Paralympics|Paralympic Games]] | 14 | 2 | 1}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Equestrian events at the Summer Paralympics|Paralympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[Equestrian events at the 2000 Summer Paralympics|2000 Sydney]]|{{nowrap|Mixed dressage championship grade I}}}}
{{MedalGold|2000 Sydney|Mixed dressage freestyle grade I}}
{{MedalGold|2000 Sydney|Mixed dressage team open}}
{{MedalGold|[[Equestrian events at the 2004 Summer Paralympics|2004 Athens]]|[[Equestrian at the 2004 Summer Paralympics – Individual championship test grade I|Individual championship test grade I]]}}
{{MedalGold|2004 Athens|[[Equestrian at the 2004 Summer Paralympics – Individual freestyle test grade I|Individual freestyle test grade I]]}}
{{MedalGold|2004 Athens|[[Equestrian at the 2004 Summer Paralympics – Team|Team]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[Equestrian events at the 2008 Summer Paralympics|2008 Beijing]]|[[Equestrian at the 2008 Summer Paralympics – Individual championship test grade Ib|Individual championship test grade Ib]]}}
{{MedalGold|2008 Beijing|[[Equestrian at the 2008 Summer Paralympics – Individual freestyle test grade Ib|Individual freestyle test grade Ib]]}}
{{MedalGold|2008 Beijing|[[Equestrian at the 2008 Summer Paralympics – Team|Team]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[Equestrian events at the 2012 Summer Paralympics|2012 London]]|[[Equestrian at the 2012 Summer Paralympics – Team|Team]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[Equestrian events at the 2016 Summer Paralympics|2016 Rio]]|[[Equestrian at the 2016 Summer Paralympics|Individual freestyle test grade Ib]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[Equestrian events at the 2020 Summer Paralympics|2020 Tokyo]]|Individual championship test grade II}}
{{MedalGold|2020 Tokyo|Individual freestyle test grade II}}
{{MedalGold|2020 Tokyo|Team}}
{{MedalSilver|2012 London|[[Equestrian at the 2012 Summer Paralympics – Individual championship test grade Ib|Individual championship test grade Ib]]}}
{{MedalSilver|2016 Rio|[[Equestrian at the 2016 Summer Paralympics – Individual championship test grade Ib|Individual championship test grade Ib]]}}
{{MedalBronze|2012 London|[[Equestrian at the 2012 Summer Paralympics – Individual freestyle test grade Ib|Individual freestyle test grade Ib]]}}
| show-medals = yes
}}

'''Sir David Lee Pearson''' (born 4 February 1974) is a 14-times [[Paralympic Games]] gold medallist, having represented British [[para-equestrian]]ism in [[2000 Summer Paralympics|Sydney]], [[2004 Summer Paralympics|Athens]], [[2008 Summer Paralympics|Beijing]], [[2012 Summer Paralympics|London]], [[2016 Summer Paralympics|Rio]], and [[2020 Summer Paralympics|Tokyo]].<ref name="IPC">{{cite news |url=https://www.paralympic.org/lee-pearson |title=Lee Pearson |website=[[International Paralympic Committee]] |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001183345/https://www.paralympic.org/lee-pearson |archive-date=1 October 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=21 August 2024}}</ref> Over the course of his career he has won 30 gold medals at European, World and Paralympic level.

He is called the "Godfather" of para-dressage.<ref name="IPC" /><ref name="Independent1">{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympics/lee-pearson-dressage-tokyo-2020-b1908481.html |title=Lee Pearson: Godfather of para dressage has eyes on Paralympic gold once again |last=Bennett |first=Charlie |date=25 August 2021 |language=en-GB |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830120425/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympics/lee-pearson-dressage-tokyo-2020-b1908481.html |archive-date=30 August 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=24 August 2021}}</ref>

==Biography==
Lee Pearson was born in [[Cheddleton]], England, with [[arthrogryposis multiplex congenita]]<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/aug/26/love-has-to-prevail-pearson-wins-gold-and-sends-message-to-lgbtq-community |title='Love has to prevail': Pearson sends LGBTQ+ message of support after gold |last=MacInnes |first=Paul |date=26 August 2021 |language=en-GB |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826133021/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/aug/26/love-has-to-prevail-pearson-wins-gold-and-sends-message-to-lgbtq-community |archive-date=26 August 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=21 August 2024}}</ref> and 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.<ref name="Independent1" />

Pearson turned professional after he was inspired by the [[1996 Summer Olympics|Atlanta Olympics]]. He won three gold medals in the championship dressage, freestyle dressage, and team dressage events at the [[2000 Summer Paralympics|2000]], [[2004 Summer Paralympics|2004]] and [[2008 Summer Paralympics]].<ref name="Independent1" /> With his horse Gentleman, he won gold in the team dressage event at the [[2012 Summer Paralympics]], silver in the championship dressage and bronze in the freestyle.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/disability-sport/19464257|title=Paralympics 2012: Lee Pearson takes dressage bronze |date=3 September 2012|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref>

He noted after his failure to win gold in the freestyle competition in London that he had been voted down by the British judge, but said that he would compete at the [[2016 Summer Paralympics]] in Rio, on a different horse named Zion.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/disability-sport/19464257|title=Pearson foiled in 11th gold bid|work=BBC Sport |access-date=12 March 2022}}</ref>

He and his home-bred horse Breezer<ref name="Independent1" /><ref name="Guardian" /> won three gold medals at the [[2020 Summer Paralympics]] in [[Tokyo]].<ref name="IPC" />

==Competition record==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! Competition
! Venue
! Gold
! Silver
! Bronze
! Total
|-
| 1999 World Championships
| {{flag|Denmark}}
| 3
| 0
| 0
! 3
|-
| [[2000 Paralympic Games]]
| {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Sydney]]
| 3
| 0
| 0
! 3
|-
| 2002 European Championships
| {{flag|Portugal}}
| 3
| 0
| 0
! 3
|-
| 2003 World Championships
| {{flag|Belgium}}
| 2
| 0
| 0
! 2
|-
| [[2004 Paralympic Games]]
| {{flagicon|Greece}} [[Athens]]
| 3
| 0
| 0
! 3
|-
| 2005 European Championships
| {{flag|Hungary}}
| 1
| 2
| 0
! 3
|-
| 2007 World Championships
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Hartpury]]
| 3
| 0
| 0
! 3
|-
| [[2008 Paralympic Games]]
| {{flagicon|China}} [[Beijing]]
| 3
| 0
| 0
! 3
|-
| [[2010 FEI World Equestrian Games]]
| {{flagicon|United States}} [[Lexington, Kentucky|Lexington]]
| 3
| 0
| 0
! 3
|-
| [[2012 Paralympic Games]]
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[London]]
| 1
| 1
| 1
! 3
|-
| [[2014 FEI World Equestrian Games]]
| {{flagicon|France}} [[Caen]]
| 3
| 0
| 0
! 3
|-
| 2015 European Championships
| {{flagicon|France}} [[Deauville]]
| 1
| 2
| 0
! 3
|-
| [[2016 Paralympic Games]]
| {{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Rio de Janeiro]]
| 1
| 1
| 0
! 2
|-
| [[2018 FEI World Equestrian Games]]
| {{flagicon|United States}} [[Tryon, North Carolina|Tryon]]
| 0
| 1
| 0
! 1
|-
| [[2020 Paralympic Games]]
| {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Tokyo]]
| 3
| 0
| 0
! 3
|-
| [[2022 FEI World Championships]]
| {{flagicon|Denmark}} [[Herning]]
| 0
| 1
| 1
! 2
|-
! colspan=2 | Paralympics total
| {{won|place=gold|14}}
| {{won|place=silver|2}}
| {{won|place=bronze|1}}
! 17
|-
! colspan=2 | World Championship total
| {{won|place=gold|14}}
| {{won|place=silver|2}}
| {{won|place=bronze|1}}
! 17
|-
! colspan=2 | European Championships total
| {{won|place=gold|5}}
| {{won|place=silver|4}}
| {{won|place=bronze|0}}
! 9
|-
! colspan=2 | Overall total
! {{won|place=gold|33}}
! {{won|place=silver|8}}
! {{won|place=bronze|2}}
! 43
|}

==Honours==
Pearson was awarded an honorary Doctorate from [[Staffordshire University]] in July 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.leepearson.co.uk/awardsachievementsfunctions.html |title=lee pearson results dressage horse disabled mbe obe<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=14 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809141239/http://www.leepearson.co.uk/awardsachievementsfunctions.html |archive-date=9 August 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He was appointed [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) in the [[2001 New Year Honours]] for services to disabled sports,<ref name="LG 30 December 2000">{{London Gazette |issue=56070 |date=30 December 2000 |page=21 |supp=y }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Olympians and Paralympians who have received UK honours {{!}} The Gazette |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/awards-and-accreditation/content/103966 |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=www.thegazette.co.uk}}</ref> [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) in the [[2005 New Year Honours]] for services to equestrianism and to disabled sport,<ref name="LG 31 December 2004">{{London Gazette |issue=57509 |date=31 December 2004 |page=12 |supp=y }}</ref> and [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (CBE) in the [[2009 New Year Honours]] for services to equestrianism and to disabled sport.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=58929 |date=31 December 2008 |page=8 |supp=y }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/31_01_08_honours.pdf|title=Commander of the Order of the British Empire|page=13|website=News.bbc.co.uk|access-date=12 March 2022}}</ref> He was [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]] in the [[2017 New Year Honours]] for services to equestrianism.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=61803|supp=y|page=N2|date=31 December 2016}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Lee Pearson runs his own dressage yard in Staffordshire and teaches many around the country.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-04-21 |title=Permission granted for Sir Lee Pearson's riding lesson plan |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-65350008 |access-date=2023-08-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Price |first=Richard |date=2023-04-15 |title=Paralympian horseman Lee's planning bid leaves neighbours long-faced |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/paralympian-lees-planning-bid-leaves-8352914 |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=StokeonTrentLive |language=en}}</ref> Pearson was the first openly [[gay]] member of the British team and is an advocate for [[LGBTQ+ rights]].<ref name="Independent1" /><ref name="Guardian" /><ref name="Independent2">{{Cite news|date=2021-08-26|title=Lee Pearson proves once again he's a true British icon with more Paralympic glory|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympics/lee-pearson-dressage-gold-medal-b1909254.html|access-date=2021-08-30|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.paralympic.org/feature/pride-month-sir-lee-pearson-speaking-out-create-better-world |title=Pride Month: Sir Lee Pearson on speaking out to create a better world |last=Smirnova |first=Lena |date=1 June 2022 |language=en |publisher=International Paralympic Committee |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601130142/https://www.paralympic.org/feature/pride-month-sir-lee-pearson-speaking-out-create-better-world |archive-date=1 June 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=21 August 2024}}</ref> In 2020, he became a single foster parent to a 15-year-old foster son.<ref>{{Cite web|title=TOKYO 2020 PARALYMPICS - BRITAIN'S LEE PEARSON WINS 12TH PARALYMPIC DRESSAGE GOLD, GEORGIA WILSON TAKES BRONZE|url=https://www.eurosport.com/geoblocking.shtml|access-date=2021-08-30|website=Eurosport.com}}</ref>

== Selected works ==

Lee Pearson and Andrew Richardson, ''I am who I am'', Worcester, 2021. ISBN 978-1910469347

==See also==
* [[2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics gold post boxes|2012 Paralympics gold post boxes]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Sports links}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pearson, Lee}}
[[Category:1974 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Cheddleton]]
[[Category:British male equestrians]]
[[Category:British dressage riders]]
[[Category:Paralympic equestrians for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Paralympic gold medalists for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Paralympic silver medalists for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Paralympic medalists in equestrian]]
[[Category:Equestrians at the 2000 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Equestrians at the 2004 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Equestrians at the 2008 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Equestrians at the 2012 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Equestrians at the 2016 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Equestrians at the 2020 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2000 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2004 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2008 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2012 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2016 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2020 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:People with arthrogryposis]]
[[Category:English gay sportsmen]]
[[Category:LGBTQ equestrians]]
[[Category:Sportspeople awarded knighthoods]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Knights Bachelor]]