Para-equestrian Laurentia Tan, 45, has secured her place in the finals at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Competing on 3 September, Tan, riding her horse Hickstead, achieved a score of 72.000 in the Grade I individual event, placing her fifth and qualifying her for the individual freestyle event on 7 September. Tan’s compatriot Gemma Rose Foo finished joint 10th with a score of 68.917, missing out on the finals, while fellow Singaporean Hilary Su, making her Paralympics debut in the Grade III individual event, came in 12th. All three athletes will participate in the team event on 6 September.
## Background
Laurentia Tan is a seasoned para-equestrian and a four-time Paralympic medallist. She made history at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games by becoming the first Asian woman to win a medal in equestrian sport at the Paralympics, earning two bronze medals. Tan continued her success with a bronze and a silver medal at the 2012 London Paralympics. Paris 2024 marks her fifth appearance at the Paralympic Games, underscoring her enduring presence and skill in the sport.
## Made it to finals
In the Grade I individual event on 3 September, Tan performed a series of pre-determined movements on her horse Hickstead, judged on accuracy, quality, and artistic expression by a panel of five judges. Her score of 72.000 secured her fifth place, allowing her to advance to the individual freestyle event on 7 September. Gemma Rose Foo, also competing in the same event, scored 68.917, placing her joint 10th out of 22 riders and missing the finals. Hilary Su, another Singaporean competitor, finished 12th in the Grade III individual event, marking her Paralympics debut.
## More on Laurentia Tan
Tan’s illustrious career includes four Paralympic medals. At the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, she won two bronze medals, making her the first Asian woman to achieve such a feat in equestrian sport at the Paralympics. She added a bronze and a silver to her collection at the 2012 London Paralympics. Paris 2024 is her fifth Paralympic Games, highlighting her long-standing dedication and excellence in para-equestrian sports.
## Will be competing in finals on Sep. 7
Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong expressed his admiration for Tan in a Facebook post on 3 September. He praised her for her dedication and support for her teammates, noting that she arrived early at the venue, Chateau de Versailles, to support Hilary Su, the team’s debutante. “She looks out for her teammates, and unselfishly shares her experience. Her presence was calming and so meaningful. When Hilary went for her event, Laurentia sat in the teeming rain to watch Hilary go through her paces with her horse, Gambler, on her Paralympic debut,” Tong wrote. Tan will compete in the finals on 7 September.
## Future implications
Tan’s qualification for the finals not only highlights her personal achievements but also underscores the growing prominence of para-equestrian sports in Singapore. Her continued success serves as an inspiration for future athletes and brings attention to the importance of supporting para-sports. As Tan prepares for the individual freestyle event on 7 September, her journey and accomplishments continue to inspire and elevate the profile of para-equestrian sports on the global stage.
