Two Crete equestrians who began horseback riding for disability therapy will be the first-ever Greeks to compete at the world championship level in Para Dressage.
Michalis Kalarakis and Dimitra-Eleni Pantechaki have qualified for Denmark’s 2022 ECCO FEI World Equestrian Games.
Kalarakis and Pantechaki will ride against the top competitors in the world in Herning, Denmark, August 6-14. In all, 29 teams of Para-dressage athletes will vie for gold in the first qualifying event for the 2024 Paralympics in Paris. For the duo who started at the Riding Academy of Crete in a therapy program, the trail from “horse therapy” to the pinnacle of horsemanship has been challenging but rewarding.
The path for Michalis Kalarakis, hindered by quadriparesis and quadriplegia from cerebral palsy, began back in 2006 when he entered a program supervised by the director of the Crete Riding Academy, Marianna Grammatikaki. At that point, Kalaralis told us, he was even terrified of heights. Nevertheless, the accomplished rider headed to the WEG overcame that hurdle quickly. Now, like his mentor, Michalis aims to blaze the trail for others to benefit from this multifaceted sport.
Joining Kalarakis in Herning, Denmark, Dimitra-Eleni Pantechaki, born with spastic diplegia, a type of cerebral palsy, is the stereotypical human dynamo. She took up riding to help her cope, as well. And cope she has, and then some. We asked Marianna Grammatikaki to describe her student in just a few words. She came forth immediately with how ambitious and dedicated Dimitra-Eleni has always been and how much qualifying for the 2024 Paralympics means to her.
In Denmark, the two Greek athletes will face the top Para-dressage competitors from 28 other nations, including several double-gold winning riders. The young children who understood a version of Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT) to get a leg up have now conquered most of the mental, physical, and emotional barriers disabled people must defeat. And they are doing it with an Olympic effort.
The International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) conducts these World Equestrian Games every four years. Athletes who perform well at these events can qualify for the 2024 Paralympics in Paris. So, both Kalarakis and Pantechaki have their next gate clear ahead.
For those who would like to follow the WEG and Michalis (and his mount Tony) and Dimitra-Eleni (with Miss Olimpia), here is the schedule for the Para-dressage for seniors. FEI.TV also streams events throughout the games.
