Lee Pearson first came to my attention earlier this week on a news show which was doing a small piece on some of the competing British athletes in the Paralympics.
Lee Pearson was telling his own story and I was captivated by his warmth, humility and sense of humour. His start was a poor one being born with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita where the muscles in his arms and legs had actually developed as scar tissue in the womb. His prognosis was not good and he has a marvelous way of recounting his story even though, I suspect there may be some humorous embellishments.
"The nurses wouldn't reply to any of her questions and although mum's very passive, when riled, she's a force to be reckoned with. 'If I've got a live child – whatever the circumstances – I want to see him or her right now,' she demanded. 'And if I haven't, then I want to be told.' "
What happened next is a shameful scene from the Dark Ages. "She was put in a wheelchair and pushed down a corridor surrounded by a team of about 10 doctors, nurses and psychologists. Finally they stopped at a broom cupboard and there, in the middle of the pile of mops and buckets, was a crib with a cloth over the top.
"Remember this was 1974 not 1874, but I suppose I was not a pretty sight; my right foot was wrapped round my left knee, my left foot was wrapped round my right knee, my arms and hands were horribly twisted and I had an ugly birthmark covering half my face and the top of my head. Mum took a gulp, picked me up and gave the first of a million cuddles."
Despite his condition he lived. And his mother forced him to live a life without special cosseting. If you try singling me out to my mother, she'll be down your throat. She has three sons and she's equally proud of us all. That's why when I went to mainstream school at the age of nine, I thought it was no big deal. When the school asked if I would like an adult minder to carry my bag around mum snapped, 'You must be joking. He'll either make friends who'll carry his bag around or else he'll carry his own bloody bag'."
When his brothers got into BMX his Mum bought him a donkey to trot around on …and there began his life in the saddle. He now has nine Olympic Gold Medals for Dressage and won a silver today. He attributes all of his wins to the horses and says that they have the ability to rip the glory away from him at anytime they choose and make him look ridiculous.
He chuckles as he recounts how often he has heard whispers from other competitors…”oh look how sweet, there is a disabled man wearing jodhpurs” and he laughs again and says, and then I go on to beat them…ha ha ha.
He even laughs about being gay and the fact that it was the second time he had to come out of the closet!!!
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