Sophie Christiansen: Eight-time Paralympic gold medalist announces retirement

Eight-time Paralympic gold medalist Sophie Christiansen has announced her retirement from steeplechase dressage.

Christiansen, who was born two months prematurely with cerebral palsy, started cycling at the age of six.

He made his Paralympic debut in Athens in 2004, aged 16, and won an individual bronze medal despite being the youngest member of the Great Britain team in Greece.

She won freestyle, team gold and individual silver at Beijing 2008 before winning three gold medals at both London 2012 and Rio 2016.

Christiansen was also selected for the postponed Tokyo Paralympics in 2021 but had to withdraw due to a veterinary issue with his horse.

“After a 20-year competitive career, I have decided to retire from Para-dressage,” the 36-year-old said.

“They once told me, ‘When you know, you know.’ I wondered what that meant, but now I realize that instead of doing sports for four more years, I’m more excited about the possibilities of what I can do outside of sports. It’s the cycle of ups and downs as an athlete.”

Christiansen has also competed at the European and World Championships, and away from sport he has a master’s degree in mathematics, which he uses as part of his role as a software developer at investment bank Goldman Sachs.

“Para-breeding has given me so much, and sport has given me the strength to redefine what I thought was possible and break barriers in every aspect of my life,” he added.

“I want to work with RDA (Equestrian for the Disabled), British Dressage and British Equestrian to continue to introduce people to the world of Para-dressage, so that when another ‘me’ emerges they too can realize their dreams.”