Lis Hartel

Lis Hartel (March 14, 1921 – February 12, 2009) was an Olympic equestrian competitor from Denmark.

At the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games, Hartel was one of four women who were the first to compete in modern equestrian sports at the Summer Olympics, also including Ida von Nagel, representing Germany; Elsa Christophersen, from Norway; and Marjorie Haines, from the United States. Hartel became the first female equestrian to win a medal in individual dressage.

History

Lis Holst was born on 14 March 1921 to equestrians Ejnar Peter Holst and Else Harriet Holst (née Schmidt), in the coastal town of Hellerup, Denmark, just north of Copenhagen. She was originally trained in equestrian sports by her mother, Else Holst, but began to be coached by Danish Olympic trainer Gunnar Andersen when she became nationally competitive.

She began in dressage at an early age alongside her sister, Tove Holst (later Jorck-Jorckston), but also competed in show jumping as a teenager. By 1934, at the age of 13, Lis was competing extensively in dressage and show jumping competitions.

She married Poul Finn Hartel on 23 March 1941; and, in 1942, their first daughter, Pernille "Pia" Hartel (later Siesbye), was born.

Lis Hartel became the Danish dressage champion in 1943 and 1944. In September 1944, at age 23 and pregnant with her second child, Lis contracted polio, which permanently paralyzed her below the knees, as well as affecting her arms and hands.

Hartel was determined to continue her equestrian career despite medical advice otherwise, and in 1947 she finished second at the Scandinavian championships, although she had to be helped onto her horse when she rode.

Dressage at the Olympics was open only to commissioned military officers until 1952, and in that year Hartel was one of the first women to compete against men in an equestrian sport at the Olympics.

After retiring from competitive riding, Hartel gave demonstrations, raising money for polio sufferers and supporting therapeutic riding for people with disabilities. The mare was bred in Denmark in 1941 by Otto Viller Petersen, and was sired by the Thoroughbred stallion Rockwood out of an imported Oldenburg mare of unknown pedigree.