Rodrigo Pessoa

Age: 36

Lives: near Brussels

Talking about Rodrigo means talking about his parents to
start with. Nelson (Neco) and Regina are 'cariocas' ( born in Rio de
Janeiro). The father, fascinated with horses, and the mother with dogs
and plants. They moved to France, Chantilly, in 1965, and it was in
Paris where Rodrigo was born in the year 1972. He lived surrounded by
several cultures: the Brazilian carioca family, his studies in France,
besides the European culture in general experienced in trips since Neco
was always involved with horses and he took his family along in the
numerous trips he used to take. Neco has won numerous titles in Brazil
and in Europe, where he became known as 'The Wizard', and it was from
him that Rodrigo inherited the passion for horses, for equestrian
sports, and learned to ride. At the age of 9, Rodrigo took part ih his first
competition with ponies in England, and at 12 he conquered the title of
Champion of Pony Class in Belgium, his first title of the many that
would come ahead. 16, he
started competing in the most important GPs in Europe, and in 1988 he
won the first he won the junior European Championship competition, but
could not take the title home because of his Brazilian citizenship. In
fact, Rodrigo's first great year was 1992, when he joined the Brazilian
team for the Olympic games in Barcelona, with Carlos Vinicius da Motta,
Nelson Pessoa, Vitor Teixeira and Lucia Santa Cruz da Motta (as
standby). He was only 19 and was the youngest rider disputing the
Olympic Games, reaching the 9th place individual count, riding Special
Envoy.

MAIN RESULTS

1996 - Team bronze medal at Olympics in Atlanta (USA) with Tomboy
1998 - World Champion in Rome (Italy) with Gandini Lanos
1999 - Bi-champion at the World Cup in Gothenburg (Sweden) with Baloubet du Rouet
2000 - Tri-champion at the World Cup in Las Vegas
(USA) with Baloubet du Rouet. Team bronze medal in Olympics Sidney
(Australia) with Baloubet du Rouet
2001/2003 - Vice-champion of 2001 and 2003 World Cups in Sweden and Usa, with Baloubet du Rouet
2004 - Individual gold medal in Olympics in Athens with Baloubet du Rouet
2005 - Champion at Top 10 Final with Baloubet du Rouet
2006 - Champion at American Invitational with Baloubet du Rouet
2007 - Team champion and individual vice-champion at Pan American Games, in Rio de Janeiro, with Rufus
2008 - Vice-champion at 1,50m Cannes stage of GCT with Rufus and Palouchin. Vice-champion at Chorlotte Jumper Classic (USA) with Rufus