Equestrian rider Simone Pearce, originally from Bamawm, has made her community and country proud after competing in the team dressage grand prix final and individual dressage grand prix at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Riding her black stallion Destano, Pearce competed in Group F of the dressage individual grand prix, finishing the round with a score of 70.171 in sixth place in the group, the highest-scoring Australian in the equestrian dressage team.
Unfortunately, Pearce didn’t qualify for the individual grand prix final, but she was part of the trio that represented Australia in the team dressage grand prix final on Saturday, August 3.
The team, made up of Jayden Brown, William Matthew and Pearce, placed 10th in the final with a combined score of 207.203.
This is Pearce’s second Olympic Games after competing in Tokyo, where she finished 36th in the individual dressage and 13th in the team dressage.
Pearce and her mother, Robyn Pearce, are from Bamawm, and her equestrian journey started at the Rochester and Bawmawn Extension pony clubs.
Pearce, who is now based in Europe, has a large and vocal support group here in Campaspe Shire. It cheered her on throughout the week and celebrated her achievements on the world’s biggest stage.