Yesterday, on Feb. 13, 2023, Finland's Mikaele Fabricius-Bjerre passed away. The Olympic dressage rider lost her battle against cancer at the age of 53. The Finnish rider had a successful career that included participation at the London Olympics. The news was announced by her husband and daughter.
The rider made her international debut in 2002, the same year she competed in the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses with Hagels Malachit (by Midt-West Ibi Light). A year later she was there again but with Feramo K (by Fidermark) under the saddle. A little later, in the period from 2005 to 2008 she rode several horses successfully at the international Grand Prix level.
Fabricius-Bjerre competed at the World Cup Final in Leipzig in both 2011 and 2012, just as she competed at the European Championships in 2011 and 2013. It was a busy period with also the Finnish honor on her shoulders at the London Olympics of 2012.
The Finnish rider's career came to an end in 2019 at the European Championships in Rotterdam. It was her last international competition.
Source: Eurodressage
Photo©: Wikipedia / By Ikmo-ned - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,