Sir Lee Pearson, out gay ‘Godfather’ of para-dressage, suspended by federation and not at Paris Paralympics

The conduct of Sir Lee Pearson, the 14-times Paralympic Games gold medalist in para-equestrianism, is the subject of an ongoing investigation by his national federation.

Pearson, 50, is not part of the British team in Paris — it’s the first Paralympics he has missed since he made his debut at Sydney 2000.

He won three gold medals at those Games, beginning a phenomenal run of success that has made him the all-time most decorated Paralympian in his sport.

For almost a quarter of a century, Pearson was also the only publicly out gay man competing at the Paralympics, having come out at the age of 20, before Sydney. He was selected as the ParalympicsGB flagbearer at the Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony and was knighted in 2017 for his services to sport and for his extensive charity work.

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He claimed three gold medals in Tokyo three years ago, bringing his total career Paralympic medal haul to 17, and picked up a silver and a bronze at the World Equestrian Championships in Denmark the following summer.

However, he has not competed since March 2023 and British Equestrian, which governs the sport in the U.K., has now issued a statement to media outlets confirming his suspension.

Asked about Pearson’s absence in Paris, it responded: “British Equestrian and British Dressage are aware of concerns and allegations that have arisen around an individual within the dressage community.

“In accordance with our own procedures, the matter is under active investigation and the individual is suspended from both organisations while that investigation takes place. No further comment will be made at this time.”

British Dressage is a member organization that oversees affiliated dressage competitions and training. Pearson was made one of its honorary patrons after his success in Tokyo. 

14th Paralympic medal
Recently became a foster parent
Pearson’s routine was set to Kung Fu Panda, to score 82.447% and beat long-time rival Pepo Puch to the top prize by 1.440%

“I didn’t care if I medalled, that horse gave me his heart in there,”#TNLAthletes pic.twitter.com/kwovtqFk3Q— UK Sport (@uk_sport) August 30, 2021

He has not responded publicly to the federation’s statement but did confirm in a post on his personal Facebook account early last month that he would miss the Paralympics this year.

“I have not aimed for Paris Paralympic selection,” wrote Pearson. “Whoever is selected for the team I wish them all the best, bring back the gold!”

He went on to describe how since the start of 2023, he has faced a “traumatic” period in his life, and referenced the support of his family members, including foster son Jenson and godson Theo.

The post continued: “Over the past 18 months, life has been very tough for me and my family in more ways that you can imagine and nothing that I want to talk about (at the moment!) but I don’t think I would even be here writing this if it wasn’t the fact that I would of being leaving Jenson without a Dad and Theo without ‘Uncle Lee’. 

“I’ve overcome one of the most traumatic hurdles of my entire life due to a group of truly horrendous people (and that’s very polite!). We have also been let down by numerous organisations whose safeguarding policies do nothing but protect their organisations and their jobs whilst causing so much pain and damage to people and children’s lives, truly shocking.”

Pearson became a foster parent in 2020, when Jenson was aged 15. In an interview with Horse and Hound the following year, he joked that fatherhood had made him “an emotional wreck” but added: We get on really well and he’s great. He completes my life, and my family.”

Earlier in 2021, his autobiography titled “I Am What I Am” was published. The book begins with Pearson recounting the story of his birth and the response of nurses to his deformities caused by arthrogryposis.

“They put me in a broom cupboard. Can you believe it?” he wrote. “I wasn’t placed in the tender arms of my mum or dad… Instead, I was packed away like an old vacuum cleaner and left to gather dust.”

Among the accolades given to Pearson at the conclusion of the last Paralympic year was the 2021 Outsports Male Athlete of the Year title, which he shared with Tom Daley.

In his Facebook post from July, Pearson said he was grateful for his “loyal sponsors” and said he was “quite certain” that he would aim to compete at both the World Equestrian Championships in Aachen, Germany, in August 2026, and the Paralympics in Los Angeles two years later.

The post Sir Lee Pearson, out gay ‘Godfather’ of para-dressage, suspended by federation and not at Paris Paralympics appeared first on Outsports.