At the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, for the first time in equestrian history, four women were allowed to compete in Dressage.
One of the women was Lis Hartel of Denmark. Lis had contracted polio in 1944, but had regained the use of her limbs. She remained paralyzed below the knees, but had learned to do without those muscles.
In 1952, Lis was chosen to represent Denmark in the Olympics and earned the silver medal, although she had to be helped on and off her horse. Gold medallist Henri Saint Cyr helped her up onto the platform for the medal presentation.
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