Paralympics: triple gold and standing ovation for super sophie

The delighted 24 year-old won gold in the freestyle Grade 1a dressage, the concluding equestrian event of the competition. She said she wanted to let the results speak for themselves and

last night (Tuesday) Sophie Christiansen did just that as she became the first British triple-gold medallist of the Paralympic Games. The delighted 24 year-old won gold in the freestyle

Grade 1a dressage, the concluding equestrian event of the competition. Christiansen saved her best until last, completing a near faultless round to a medley of music that included the chimes

of Big Ben, a quote from Richard II and Land of Hope and Glory. As if to confirm her status, the crowd, which is asked to remain silent so as not to spook the horses, abandoned protocol to

chant "We love you Sophie", giving her a standing ovation as she left the arena. "Sometimes I get a bit carried away because I do love it so much, so I kind of played it a

little safer today to stay relaxed and keep the horses' rhythm going and it paid off," she said after the victory ceremony at Greenwich Park. "I did everything I could going

into the Games. I've had a great time. "I knew I could potentially win three gold medals, but I wanted to keep that quiet and then let the results speak for themselves."

Christiansen, who competes in the 1a category for the most disabled athletes, was born with cerebral palsy and had a string of other health problems including jaundice, blood poisoning, a

heart attack and a collapsed lung. She took up riding through Riding for the Disabled at the age of six in order to help her with balance and co-ordination, but what began as physiotherapy

soon became her life. "Once I found out I could do competitions that was it because I've always been competitive," she said before the Games. She rode her horse, Janeiro 6,

three times during the competition and scored more than 80 per cent each time. Her victory also secured a British Paralympic record of 11 medals in one Games for the equestrian team, one

more than in Beijing. Christiansen, from Maidenhead in Berkshire, who also won a team gold medal and the individual championship title, said she had asked her brother, a volunteer at the

Games, to keep out of sight as she rode into the arena "because I'd have got a bit emotional". She added: "It's amazing knowing my friends and family were here. Some

haven't ever seen me ride let alone win a gold medal." Christiansen has a master's degree in mathematics and works part-time as a statistician. She is already an MBE for

services to disabled sport.