Austrian Paralympic Team Rider Valentina Strobl Withdraws from Paris

Fri, 08/30/2024 - 10:08
Austria
Valentina Strobl and Bequia Simba at the 2023 European Para Championships in Riesenbeck :: Photo © Silke Rottermann

Austria will be competing with a team of three at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris on 3 - 7 September 2024.  Team rider Valentina Strobl has withdrawn.

According to Eqwo.net, Strobl's 14-year old Hanoverian Bequia Simba (by Bequia x Sandro x Figaro) is not fit to compete. 

A reserve pair could not be called up after the 19 August 2024 deadline, so Austria will ride the team competition with three members: Pepo Puch on Sailor’s Blue, Julia Sciancalepore onHeinrich IV and Thomas Haller on Espalion.

In 2014 Strobl was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis but made her international debut in 2015 in the able bodied junior riders division aboard Cypria F. She began showing Bequia Simba internationally as of 2018 before switching to Grade V para sport in 2019.

With Bequia Simba she represented Austria at the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics (13th in the individual test) and at the 2023 European Championships in Riesenbeck (13th in Grand Prix B). 

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