Nicola Tustain MBE (born 27 December 1977) is a retired Welsh Paralympic dressage rider. During her career, Tustain won multiple para-dressage medals at the World Championships and Paralympic Games. She was named a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2010.
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| National team | Great Britain | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 27 December 1977 Corwen, Wales | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Great Britain | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Para equestrian | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Disability | Hemiplegia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event | Para dressage | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Early life and education edit
Tustain was born on 27 December 1977 in Corwen, Wales.[1] She was born with hemiplegia that paralyzed her right side.[2] She began riding competitively when she was ten years old and participated in a Riding for the Disabled Association championship when she was twelve. Tustain joined the British equestrian team in 1993.[3] In 1996, she completed a certificate in healthcare at Yale College, Wrexham.[4]
Career edit
Tustain won her first para-dressage medals at the 1999 World Championships with three gold medals. While competing in the World Championships, Tustain won an additional three gold medals at the 2003 World Championships and a gold and a silver at the 2007 World Para Dressage Championships.[5]
Alternatively, Tustain won six Paralympic medals in dressage. At the 2000 Summer Paralympics, Tustain won a gold medal in the team and freestyle events with a bronze in the individual event. At the following Paralympics, she won a gold in the team event while winning a bronze in the individual and freestyle events at the 2004 Summer Paralympics.[2]
Other medals include two gold and one bronze at the 2005 European Championships and multiple British Dressage Championships. She retired in 2009.[6]
Awards and honours edit
In 2000, Tustain was awarded the British Equestrian Federation Medal of Honour. In 2003, she was named the best dressage rider by Animal Health Trust.[6] The following year, Tustain was nominated for the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability in 2004 but lost to Earle Connor.[7] In 2010, Tustain was named a Member of the Order of the British Empire at the 2010 Birthday Honours.[8]
References edit
- ^ "Nicola Tustain" (PDF). British Dressage. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
- ^ a b "Paralympian Nicola Tustain retires from international competition". Horse & Hound. 15 April 2009. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
- ^ Healey, Kate (20 July 2007). "Kate Healey talks to Paralympic gold winner Nicola Tustain ahead of her World Para Dressage Championships attempt". Daily Post (Liverpool, England).
- ^ Shimmon, Katie (8 June 2004). "College days: Nicola Tustain, medal-winning equestrian". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
- ^ "World Championships Past Success". British Equestrian Federation. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
- ^ a b "Nicola Tustain bags MBE for her services to equestrianism". British Dressage. 28 June 2010. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
- ^ "Rider Nicola earns Athens call-up". BBC News. 1 June 2004. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
- ^ "Paralympic champion from Corwen receives MBE". North Wales Daily Post. 1 December 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2018.