Nicola Tustain

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.

Nicola Tustain
Personal information
National teamGreat Britain
Born (1977-12-27) 27 December 1977
Corwen, Wales
Sport
CountryGreat Britain
SportPara equestrian
DisabilityHemiplegia
Event(s)Para dressage
Medal record
Para equestrian
Representing  Great Britain
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place2000 SydneyMixed dressage – Freestyle grade II
Gold medal – first place2000 SydneyMixed dressage team open
Gold medal – first place2004 AthensMixed dressage team open
Bronze medal – third place2000 SydneyMixed dressage – Championship grade II
Bronze medal – third place2004 AthensMixed dressage – Championship grade II
Bronze medal – third place2004 AthensMixed dressage – Freestyle grade II

Early life and education

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

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

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
  1. "Nicola Tustain" (PDF). British Dressage. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  2. "Paralympian Nicola Tustain retires from international competition". Horse & Hound. 15 April 2009. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  3. 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).
  4. Shimmon, Katie (8 June 2004). "College days: Nicola Tustain, medal-winning equestrian". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  5. "World Championships Past Success". British Equestrian Federation. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  6. "Nicola Tustain bags MBE for her services to equestrianism". British Dressage. 28 June 2010. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  7. "Rider Nicola earns Athens call-up". BBC News. 1 June 2004. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  8. "Paralympic champion from Corwen receives MBE". North Wales Daily Post. 1 December 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
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