Lee Pearson appointed as Chairman of FEI Athletes Committee
Barnsby sponsored rider Lee Pearson is used to making waves wherever he goes. The 33 year-old recipient of both an MBE and an OBE is already a legend in his own lifetime, but his appointment as first Chairman of the new FEI Athletes' Committee is due as much to his larger-than-life personality and people-skills as it is to his extraordinary achievements as a para-equestrian competitor. Unafraid to say what he thinks about any topic, he should prove a remarkable asset to his committee and therefore to equestrian athletes everywhere - "but don't ask me to be politically correct!" he insists.
Lee has won six Olympic medals - three at Sydney in 2000 and three in Athens in 2004 - but for many of his fans the moment that defines him as a person is when he slid off Blue Circle Boy, grabbed his crutches, and presented his victory bouquet to French youngster Valerie Salles whose horse had collapsed and died as she entered the ring to compete.
Lee would like to compete internationally against able-bodied riders and he has London 2012 already in his sights.....
The establishment of an Athletes' Committee was part of FEI President Princess Haya's manifesto and Lee sees his chairmanship as "a big role with a lot of responsibility". So how does he think he will handle it? "Well Princess Haya herself has been inspirational for me. She's doing an amazing job and she's about the same age as myself so if she can do it, then so can I!"