Paralympian Joanne Pitt has died at the age of 34, it has been announced.
Dressage rider Pitt was being treated for a rare lung condition, according to a statement by the British Equestrian Federation and British Dressage.
Pitt, who had recently moved from Huntly in Aberdeenshire to Norfolk, represented Great Britain at the Paralympics in Athens in 2004 and was part of the para-equestrian dressage team that won gold at the 2010 World Equestrian Games.
In a statement on the federation’s website, Will Connell, performance director, said: “Jo was a stalwart of para-equestrian dressage and has fought hard over the last year to establish herself once again as a real medal contender for Great Britain.”
Amanda Bond, chief executive of British Dressage, said the dressage community was “shocked and saddened” by the news.
She added: “Jo was someone who quietly got on with things and never let defeat or a run of bad form get her down.”
