Paris 2024: Age is just a number for Katja Karjalainen

For four-time Paralympian Katja Karjalainen, Para equestrian has always been about far more than competition. The Finnish sexagenarian's love of horses and desire to progress has powered a career lasting more than 20 years. The Beijing 2008 silver medallist has been reflecting on her ground-breaking time in the sport.

So Katja, the last time we spoke with you, you had started training a new horse. How are the preparations going with him? What has it been like getting another horse ready after so many years competing with Dr Doolittle? 

I have three training horses just now - Fabriano Sil, Supremo and Kameo, and we have decided that this season I will compete with Supremo and Kameo, from which the horse for the Paralympics will be chosen. Fabriano is still my training horse at home. Luckily the horses have received me nicely, but I can't speed up co-operation and trust. It deepens when I spend time with them. Fortunately, there is still some time before the Paralympics. 

The situation is different from before, because all my previous Paralympic horses have been my own and I have worked with them five or six times a week, but Supremo and Kameo live in their owners' stables, where I go. I may not see them all every day, but every day of the week one of them.   

Fabriano and Supremo are bigger than your previous horses. What kind of fitness regime do you have in place to be able to handle such a big horse? 

A big horse is always a challenge, when my body doesn't work normally. I have spasticity and muscle weakness, so it' s not simple. But I try my best even though I'm old (laughs).  

I have always been active. When I was young and healthy, I was also involved in athletics. Nowadays I exercise as much as I can (dog walking, gym, pool therapy, swimming).  

Describe the feeling, back in 1996, of sitting on a horse for the first time in 10 years. 

I was terrified about how to get into the saddle when I realised, that the way I had learned, did not work anymore (laughs). I no longer had depth of vision, the feeling on the saddle was like I was constantly facing the wall and I didn't know how to adjust the tempo.  

It's still hard to understand at what "speed" the horse moves. Rhythm can be the same, but tempo changes. When I came down from the saddle, I found myself under the horse's belly because my right leg didn't go over the saddle enough! 

Since then, I have to come down from the right side. It is easier, but I need help. 

This was 12 years before your Paralympic debut at Beijing 2008. At what point during that time did becoming a Paralympian become a realistic aim? 

I went to watch the Athens 2004 Paralympics and I realised that I could aim to be a Paralympian one day. I started training towards that goal. 

Imagen

What did competing at Beijing do for your competitive spirit? Is it fair to say it ‘lit a fire’?

It must have. In this test I was first to go. After my ride I stayed to watch the talented riders work. I didn't expect anything, but I never could have thought that I would be fourth – I cried with happiness. 

I was stuck on the bronze medal position for a long time, but the 13th rider dropped me to fourth. I think there were 18 of us in Grade 1b. 

You made the podium in your very next Games though. Can you describe the feeling of claiming silver at London 2012. 

Even then (2012) I thought of it as a positive surprise. I was second in the world rankings so I secretly expected success but again I cried with happiness.  

Imagen

How did life change after becoming a Paralympic silver medallist?  

Daily life did not change in any way. The city where I live, rewarded me with a EUR 5,000 scholarship. Our National Federation awarded me ‘Rider of the Year’ and Rosie was ‘Horse of the Year’. I was also nominated at the national sports gala.

Horse people knew me by name, and I got a financial partner until the Rio 2016 Paralympics. Rosie would have been too old for that, so I got a new horse. He was injured in January 2015 and in March 2015 I bought Dr Doolittle, with whom we were able to secure a European slot for Rio. 

Is one of these your favourite moment as a Para equestrian or is there something more personal that stands out? 

This journey as a Para rider has been long and amazing. Everything is in my heart.

It is difficult to elevate one experience above the others, but if I have to, maybe the first ‘halt and salute’ at Beijing 2008. The smile on my face! It was the start [of my Paralympic journey]. 

Imagen

How realistic is a medal in Paris? How would you celebrate if you won gold – champagne at the top of the Eiffel Tower perhaps? 

I have six months to train and get the co-operation working with the horse. If everything goes so well that the best day of the horse and me is the same day, you can be surprised with the bronze. And the Eiffel Tower would be a great experience, even if you don't get a medal. 

Book your tickets for the Paralympic Games by visiting the Paris 2024 ticketing website.