British Paralympic great Sir Lee Pearson claimed his 12th career gold medal in Tokyo on Thursday, winning the grade two individual dressage on homebred horse Breezer.
Pearson, now the third-most successful British Paralympian of all-time, kept up his record of having won at least one gold medal at every Games since Sydney 2000 by claiming victory with a score of 76.265.
Compatriot Georgia Wilson, a late replacement for the decorated Sophie Christiansen, took bronze on her Paralympic debutant, riding Sakura and scoring 72.765.
Pearson had to settle for silver in this event in Brazil five years ago after being beaten by Pepo Puch of Austria.
The two again battled it out but this time the roles were reversed as Puch’s score of 73.441 on Sailor’s Blue was only good enough for second place.
Staffordshire-born Pearson now has a total of 15 Paralympic medals from six successive Games.
“I’m as emotional as the first,” he told Channel 4. “I am probably more emotional. I don’t think I’ve cried immediately after saluting at the end of a test before now.
“And to bring a home-bred horse - I saw Breezer a day old in my parent’s field and to be here and win a gold medal - it’s literally fairytale stuff.
“He’s very highly bred - I know the moment I came to the 10 minute box he was getting tied up and tense because he knew it was a special day. He didn’t let me down, but he stayed with me and I’m really proud of him.”
