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Sharon Jarvis took up Para-equestrian just a few years after beating childhood bone cancer. Now, she’s about to become the first Australian Para-equestrian to compete at three Paralympics.
The accomplished rider finished fourth in the mixed dressage at the 2008 Beijing Games but missed the London Games in 2012 due to transportation and horse injury problems. Jarvis then returned to represent Australia in Rio in 2016 and is now back in the saddle, aiming for a podium finish at Tokyo 2020 with her horse Romanos.
“I can’t describe what a podium finish would mean to me,” Jarvis said. “It’s everything I’ve ever worked towards. It’s so many years of commitment and would represent the sacrifices I’ve made. It would just mean the world.”
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Jarvis, who will compete in the Individual and Team Championship Grade IV events, hasn’t had an easy ride. When she was diagnosed with cancer at age seven, she was given a 20 percent chance of survival. After a year of intense treatment she was left with limited movement in her left leg.
“I’m just lucky to be alive,” she said. “I wasn’t given the best odds, so I always try to make the most of every day.”
Jarvis and her horse Romanos have completed their first training session in the competition arena and they are feeling comfortable with the conditions in Tokyo.
“We are feeling good, I am competing with a horse that’s brave and really listens to me. We work together as a partnership, by working together we can produce the best work.
“Horses can feel absolutely anything and everything on them. They literally become mind readers, they read our minds of what we need them to produce for us and that’s the partnership and that’s really special.”
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Tokyo is a long journey for a horse, but Romanos’ courage shone through.
“Romanos has travelled really well and that’s really important to me,” Jarvis said. “I’ve got a happy horse, which means I’m happy, and he seems to enjoy himself here in Tokyo.”
Jarvis said she almost didn’t make it to the Games after her original horse became injured.
“I am really grateful to the kind owners of Romanos for letting me ride their horse. I wasn’t in a financial position to purchase another professional horse and through their kindness I’m here.”
The Australian Para-equestrian Team begin their Tokyo campaign at Equestrian Park on Thursday.
Watch the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games live and free on Seven and 7plus from August 24 – September 5.
By: Paralympics Australia
Posted: 24 August 2021
Photo: Sharon Jarvis via Instagram
