Last Hurrah Before Rio

LISA Martin held one last hurrah with friends and family today before she heads to Rio for the paralympics on her trusty steed First Famous.

They will depart on August 2 on a 32 hour flight in cargo and Lisa is thinking about what sandwiches to pack and share with the pilots on their long journey.

The flags are flying for Lisa Martin and First Famous heading to Rio.

“I will pack a few vegemite sandwiches, but QANTAS has a system where if you win a medal you get an upgrade, so if I win gold I might come home first class,” laughed Ms Martin.

Joy Pool, a close family friend who has known Lisa since she was a baby and watched her entire journey build towards Rio spoke of the pride Lisa’s friends and family have for her.

“Anyone who has prepared a horse for any event knows how much work goes into it,” said Ms Pool.

“But the effort to prepare to go to the paralympics and the imagination is astounding,” she said.

“To see you start as a junior rider and now to see you…I’m going to cry,” Joy Pool said.

Lisa Martin on First Famous, with groom Maddison McAndrew.

For groom, Maddison McAndrew, it is her second international competition, but her first Olympics and the city girl is enjoying her time preparing in Scone.

“I am definitely a city girl who grew up riding horses in Centennial Park, so it is different being in the country with insects and long grass,” she laughed.

“It is a fantastic journey and there are just so many moments when I get goosebumps,” she said.

“The feeling and atmosphere of the World Equine Games was overwhelming and I’m told to expect even more at the Olympics,” Maddison McAndrew said.

In total Lisa and First Famous will be away for nine months and take seven flights with her horse to train in Europe and America after the paralympics and start on her next dream to compete at the World Equestrain Games in Canada in 2018.

“I want to be the first para and able bodied rider to represent my country,” she said.

Lisa Martin on First Famous, thanking friends and family before heading to Rio.

Lisa’s friends and family were treated to the routine that she will perform in Rio and had one last opportunity to get some photographs, which was a special opportunity not only to be photographed with a hopeful medalist, but it also may be the last time First Famous is in the country.

“I have to be realistic that First Famous may not come back home,” said Lisa.

“I looked at more than 200 horses in Germany to find her and she is an incredibly special horse,” she said.

“She would now be worth more than $2million and believe me we didn’t buy her for anywhere near that, but she is an outstanding horse and if we are offered a life changing amount of money for her I will need to be realistic,” Lisa Martin said.

See related stories:

• Second in Line for Rio – April 18, 2016.
• Opinion: From Little Things – April 29, 2016.
• Lisa Martin Makes the Team – June 28, 2016.

Lisa Martin putting First Famous through her paces before Rio.