Ex-College Trainee Chef Wins Medal at Tokyo Paralympics
An ex-college trainee chef and keen equestrian is celebrating after winning a medal at the recent Paralympics in Japan.
25-year-old Georgia Wilson from Abergele scooped a bronze medal in 36-degree heat after putting in a fine display aboard seven-year-old Sakura in the dressage individual test grade II event. She joined teammate and gold medallist Lea Pearson on the Tokyo podium.
Her achievement is all the more remarkable considering the fact that Georgia received a late call-up to her first Paralympics to replace eight-time champion Sophie Christiansen, whose horse was not fit enough to compete.
Georgia burst onto the scene at the 2019 European Championships where she picked up two silvers and a gold in the freestyle competition. She started riding as a toddler as her mum was advised it would help with Georgia’s balance as she has cerebral palsy.
Immediately after finishing school, Georgia studied Professional Cookery at Levels 1 & 2 at Coleg Llandrillo’s Rhos-on-Sea campus.
Her then tutor Mike Evans - who balances his time as Hospitality & Catering tutor at the Rhos-on-Sea campus with his role as Welsh National Junior Culinary team manager - remembers Georgia’s time at college with fondness: “We are all thrilled with Georgia’s success. Even back then, she was determined to follow her equestrian dream. I remember her coming up to me at the beginning of the course and saying that she needed every Friday off to train for the Paralympics…which doesn’t happen very often!
“Because of her physical limitations, she had to find a way to adapt when using knives and other kitchen utensils. She overcame all barriers and passed both courses with flying colours, which was brilliant.”
