A quick tweet from Megan Jones (above) reminded us that it is National Dyslexic Week. Wondering why Megan would care about that? Megan, an Olympic silver medallist and one of the best eventing riders in Australia was diagnosed as being dyslexic as a child.
Another Australian eventing Olympic medallist Shane Rose also struggled with dyslexia when he was younger as readers of our book An Eventful Life – Life Stories of Eventing Champions will know. Ever since we put this book together it has amazed us how many incredibly talented people are dyslexic
Some other well-known identities that have been diagnosed as dyslexic or suspected of having been dyslexic include;
Jamie Oliver – chef
Richard Branson – entrepreneur
Albert Einstein – scientist
Leonardo da Vinci – artist
Jackie Stewart – racing car driver
Muhammad Ali – boxer
Steve Jobs – founder of Apple Computer
Keira Knightley – Actress
Henry Ford – inventor of the motor car
Tom Cruise – actor
Another interesting one is General George Smith Patton, one the greatest US military generals, who was not only dyslexic but also an accomplished horseman. He competed in the Stockholm Olympics in 1912 as part of the U.S. Olympic team, finishing fifth in the modern pentathlon which included riding a cross country course
Equestrian sport is of course now widely associated with improving the lives of people with physical disabilities but it also now accepted that riding and/or association with horses improves cognitive skills, concentration and memory.
Seems to us that dyslexia may be seen as a disadvantage in some ways but not if you want to be an equestrian superstar!
