Suzanna Hext

Suzanna Hext (born c. 1989[1]) is a British Paralympic swimmer and equestrian, who won three gold medals in dressage at the 2017 FEI European Championships, and two medals at both the 2019 and 2023 World Para Swimming Championships. She finished fourth in two S5 swimming events at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.

Suzanna Hext
Personal information
Born1989
Truro, Cornwall, England
Sport
CountryUnited Kingdom
SportSwimming
Equestrian
Disability classS5, SB4 (swimming)
Grade III (equestrian)
Event(s)Freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke (swimming)
Dressage (equestrian)
Achievements and titles
World finals2019 (swimming)
Regional finals2017 (equestrian)
Paralympic finals2020 (swimming)
Medal record
Representing  Great Britain
Equestrian
FEI European Championships
Gold medal – first place2017 GothenburgGrade III Championship
Gold medal – first place2017 GothenburgGrade III Freestyle
Gold medal – first place2017 GothenburgMixed Team
Para swimming
World Championships
Gold medal – first place2023 Manchester50m freestyle S5
Silver medal – second place2019 London50m freestyle S5
Silver medal – second place2023 Manchester100m freestyle S5
Bronze medal – third place2019 London100m freestyle S5

Personal life

Hext is from Truro, Cornwall.[1] and has also lived near Sherston, Wiltshire.[2] In 2012, she was paralysed in a horse riding accident, and required the use of a wheelchair.[3] She watched the 2012 Summer Paralympics from her hospital bed.[1][3] In November 2021, she had a cochlear implant, which allowed her to hear again.[4] In her spare time, Hext volunteers for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.[2]

Equestrian career

In equestrian, Hext competes in the Grade III classification.[5] She won three gold medals in dressage at the 2017 FEI European Championships,[1] winning the individual,[5] team[6] and freestyle events.[7] She competed in the team event alongside Sophie Wells, Erin Orford and Julie Payne, and it was her first European Championship.[8] In 2018, she was part of the British team that won the team event at the Pole International du Cheval.[9]

Swimming career

Hext started swimming in 2017,[10] and she now trains at Swindon swimming club, and at the Manchester Aquatics Centre.[1] She is the British record holder in S5 50 metre and 100 metre freestyle events, and in S4 100 metre backstroke.[1] At the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships, Hext came second in the 50 metre freestyle event, and third in the 100 metre freestyle competition.[1][11] In 2020, she decided to participate in swimming qualifying for the 2020 Summer Paralympics, rather than equestrian.[11] During the COVID-19 pandemic, she turned her parents' house into a gym,[3] and was able to use jockey AP McCoy's private pool,[1] as well as swimming in the Cornish sea.[12]

At the 2020 Summer Paralympics, Hext had an asthma attack that caused her to be hospitalised.[13] As a result, she was withdrawn from the British team for the mixed 4 × 50 metre freestyle relay 20pts.[14] She came fourth in the finals of the 200 metre freestyle S5[15] and 100 metre freestyle S5 events.[13] After further asthma attacks, Hext withdrew from the 100m breaststroke SB4 and 50m backstroke S5 events.[16]

Hext did not compete at the 2022 World Para Swimming Championships after developing sepsis whilst training in Lanzarote, Canary Islands.[17] She was included in the British squad for the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships.[18] She won the 50 metre freestyle S5 event at the World Championships,[19] and finished second in the 100 metre freestyle S5 competition.[20]

References
  1. "Suzanna Hext: Paralympic swimmer prepares for Tokyo 2020 having watched London 2012 from hospital". BBC Sport. 24 August 2021. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  2. "New £5m airbase for Wiltshire Air Ambulance gets full planning permission". Wilts & Glos Standard. 19 January 2017. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  3. "Hopeful Paralympian turns parents' living room into gym to help make 'dream come true'". Sky News. 3 January 2021. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  4. "Suzanna Hext: Para swimmer hears again after 'life-changing' surgery". BBC Sport. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  5. "Individual gold and bronze for Britain on day one in Gothenburg". Horse & Hound. 21 August 2017. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  6. "Britain wins European gold against the odds". Horse & Hound. 22 August 2017. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  7. "Suzanna Hext completes a golden hat-trick at the European Para Dressage Championships". Horse & Hound. 23 August 2017. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  8. "Britain retain team Para-dressage European title". Inside the Games. 22 August 2017. Archived from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  9. "Sophie Christiansen returns in style". International Paralympic Committee. 10 April 2018. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  10. "British para-swimmers keep fit with 500 days to go until Tokyo Paralympics". Swimming.org. 11 April 2020. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  11. "British rider looking to compete in swimming rather than equestrian at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics". Inside the Games. 24 February 2020. Archived from the original on 31 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  12. "Medal-winning rider selected to swim at Tokyo: 'riding helped me believe in myself again'". Horse & Hound. 3 July 2021. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  13. "Kearney and Summers-Newton smash world records to claim Paralympic gold". The Guardian. 26 August 2021. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  14. "Records fall as golden GB swimmers shine on second day of Paralympics". Swimming.org. 26 August 2021. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  15. "Tully Kearney, Reece Dunn and Toni Shaw secure ParalympicsGB medals in pool". The Herald. 25 August 2021. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  16. "Tokyo Paralympics: Suzanna Hext pulls out of Tokyo Games with health problems". BBC Sport. 29 August 2021. Archived from the original on 29 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  17. "AFTER SEPSIS AT TRAINING CAMP, BRITAIN'S SUZANNA HEXT WITHDRAWS FROM WORLDS". SwimSwam. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  18. "World Para-swimming Championships: Bethany Firth leads 28-member British squad". BBC Sport. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  19. "Brits clean sweep women's s14 200m free on opening night". British Swimming. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  20. "Para Swimming World Championships: Ellie Challis wins sixth medal as Britain finish strongly". BBC Sport. 6 August 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
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