News and Tips
Liz Hartel : A Remarkable Woman
27th January, 2006
Liz Hartel: A Remarkable Woman
This is a brief story about Liz Hartel, who won two silver medals, in 1952 and 1956 Olympic Games
There’s always something amazing about winning an Olympic medal, and anyone who has ventured into dressage knows how amazing that really is. Liz Hartel was showing a promising career in riding, becoming the Danish Champion in hear early twenties. When in 1944 she was pregnant with her second child, she was struck with polio, which paralyzed her from head to toe. Liz was hospitalized for 4 months.
The first miracle of this story occurs when her second child was born healthy, although Liz was still paralyzed. How devastating for any mother not to be able to cuddle her child, or care for it, and to have a sports career smashed. The psychological battles that Liz must have had to deal with would be enough to crush any one. Doctors had told Liz that she would eventually walk with canes, but that she would never ride again.
Eventually Liz was able to walk with two canes, and she was determined to ride again. Liz was placed upon her horse, off which she fell many times. Undoubtedly the horse was also a remarkable animal. By 1956 Liz was representing Denmark at the 1952 Olympic games. Not only that, this was in an era were women riders at the games were rare. Liz Hartel won silver at these games. And went back in 1956 to win Silver again.
Liz was lowered into her saddle to ride and was assisted to walk up on the podium to receive her medal. What a remarkable rider.
References:
Bryant J. Olympic Equestrian, , 2000, The Blood Horse Inc.
