The Riding for the Disabled Association of Singapore (RDA) is most delighted to announce that Singaporean Laurentia Tan 29 years, has won yet another bronze medal for the Individual Freestyle Test Grade 1A last night (11 Sept 2008) at the 2008 Paralympics in Hong Kong with a score of 70.167%. She did this event to music although Laurentia suffers from profound deafness. The gold was won by the same persons who beat her in her other event 2 days ago with a score of 76.166% (Sophie Christiansen) and 73.333% (Anne Dunham). She narrowly beat the 4th place rider who had a score of 69.667%.
On 9 Sept 2008 Laurentia won the bronze medal for the Individual Championship Test Grade 1A. She achieved a score of 68.80% and this is the first time in history that Singapore has won a medal at the Paralympics. The gold was won by Anne Dunham of UK (73.10%) and the silver by Sophie Christiansen of UK (72.80%).
Laurentia, who was born in Singapore, suffers from cerebral palsy and profound deafness. She started riding at the RDA in England when she was 5 years old and she found the horse riding therapy most beneficial and so she continued riding till she was 18 years when she went to University to concentrate on her studies. After graduating with a degree in Hospitality Management & Tourism she started working as a mental health worker and did not start riding again until 2005.
