Carlos Paro (alternatively spelled Parro) (born June 5, 1979, in Colina, Brazil) is an event rider who won a team bronze medal in the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2007, a team silver medal in the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada and an Individual Bronze and team Silver in the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru in eventing for Brazil.[1] He has competed in four Olympic games: the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,[2] the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan and the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.[3]

Carlos Paro
Personal information
Native nameCarlos Parro
NicknameCaca
National teamBrazil
BornJune 5, 1979
Colina, Brazil
OccupationProfessional equestrian
Sport
CountryBrazil
ClubHartill Stud, Great Britain
Coached byMark Todd, Charlotte Dujardin, Robert Smith
Carlos Paro

Carlos Parro and Political Mandate at the Dairy Farm during the cross-country phase of Burghley Horse Trials 2010.
Medal record
Equestrian
Representing  Brazil
Pan American Games
Silver medal – second place 2015 Toronto Team eventing
Silver medal – second place 2019 Lima Team eventing
Bronze medal – third place 2007 Rio de Janeiro Team eventing
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Lima Individual eventing
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Santiago Team eventing
South American Championships
Gold medal – first place 2001 Belo Horizonte Team eventing
Gold medal – first place 2022 Buenos Aires Individual eventing
Gold medal – first place 2022 Buenos Aires Team eventing

Equestrian career

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Paro began riding at age seven and started eventing at age 8, in Colina, Brazil.[3] In 1997, he travelled to the United Kingdom to train with Christopher Bartle.[3]

Paro's first major event was the World Equestrian Games in Rome in 1998 at the age of 19, where he finished the team competition in 9th place.[citation needed] He also won the team gold medal in the South American Games in Belo Horizonte in 2001.

In 2002, he relocated permanently to the U.K.[3] He was named as a reserve for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, and a few days before the Games started, he was called into the team as one of the horses was injured, but due to a misunderstanding in the Brazilian Equestrian Federation (CBH – Confederacao Brasileira de Hipismo) his forms were never sent to the IOC (International Olympic Committee) which meant he wasn't allowed to compete.[citation needed]

In July 2015, Carlos Parro rode as one of the team members for the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, riding Calcourt Landline. The team won the silver medal just a few marks behind the USA.[citation needed]

Parro competed at his second Summer Olympics in 2016. At the Games held in front of his home crowd in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he finished 7th in the team competition and 18th individually with the horse Summon Up The Blood.

In 2019 with a new horse, Quaikin Qurious, Carlos Parro won the individual bronze medal at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru and the team Silver medal, which qualified the Brazilian Eventing Team for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.

In October 2022, Carlos won an individual and team gold medal at the South American Championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina riding Tullabeg Chinzano.

2024 Paris Olympic Games

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In 2024, Paro was selected to ride for Brazil in the Summer Olympic Games in Paris. After scoring a 37.70 in their dressage test,[4] Paro was issued a Yellow card by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) when pictures emerged showing him hyper-flexing Safira's neck, using a Rollkur position.[5][6] In their decision, the FEI suggested the athlete's conduct could cause unnecessary discomfort to the horse, and compromise its breathing.[7] He was not disqualified from the competition. When asked about the incident, Parro attributed the actions to his horse Safira, recounting, "she did it by herself".[8]

After the cross-country phase of the event, Paro did not present Safira for the vet inspection prior to show jumping. They subsequently withdrew from the competition.[9]

Notable International Results

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Results
Year Event Horse Placing Notes
2022 South American Championship, Buenos Aires ARG Tullabeg Chinzano   Team
  Individual
2021 Olympic Games, Tokyo JAP Goliath 32nd
2019 Event Riders Master, Millstreet IRE Calcourt Landline 7th
2019 Pan American Games, Lima PER Quaikin Qurious   Team
  Individual
2019 Haras De Jardy, FRA Tullabeg Chinzano 1st
2016 Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro BRA Summon Up The Blood 7th Team
18th Individual
2015 Pan American Games, Toronto CAN Calcourt Landline   Team
6th Individual
2007 Pan American Games, Rio de Janeiro BRA Political Mandate   Team
14th Individual
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  • Andre Parro, Carlos Parro's brother who represented Brazil in Eventing at the Olympics in 2004 and 2008

References

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  1. ^ "Brasil é bronze no hipismo e ganha vaga para Pequim". Terra Networks Brasil. 22 July 2007. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  2. ^ "Olympic Equestrian start list". AAP General News. 21 September 2000. Retrieved 26 March 2010.[dead link]
  3. ^ a b c d "Parro Carlos". Olympics.com. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  4. ^ "Eventing Team and Individual Results". Olympics.com. July 28, 2024. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  5. ^ "Brazilian dressage rider warned for horse mistreatment at Olympics". The Independent. 2024-07-27. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
  6. ^ "Brazilian rider Carlos Parro issued a warning at Paris Olympics over horse treatment". AP News. 2024-07-27. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
  7. ^ "Brazilian rider issued warning over horse treatment". ESPN.com. 2024-07-27. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
  8. ^ Allen, Shelby. "FEI Issues Yellow Card in Response to PETA Complaint - Eventing Nation - Three-Day Eventing News, Results, Videos, and Commentary". eventingnation.com. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
  9. ^ "2 Held, 1 Withdrawn From Hold Box At Final Olympic Eventing Horse Inspection - The Chronicle of the Horse". Retrieved 2024-07-29.