Kevin Van Ham (born 22 July 1989) is a Paralympic equestrian of Belgium, competing in Test Grade V.

Kevin Van Ham
Personal information
NationalityBelgian
DisciplinePara-dressage
Born22 July 1989 (1989-07-22) (age 35)
Horse(s)Eros Van Ons Heem
Medal record
Para-equestrian
Representing  Belgium

Early life

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Van Ham was born with a piece of his left forearm missing. He has been riding horses since he was 12.[1]

Career

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Van Ham started out in the able-bodied Dressage circuit and switched to Para-dressage in 2017.[2]

Van Ham participated in his first international para-competition in 2018 and a year later he recorded his first scores above 70% at the CPEDI (Concours Para Équestre de Dressage International) competitions in Uberhernn (Germany) [3] and Stadl-Paura (Austria) [4] with his horse Eros Van Ons Heem.[5]

Van Ham first represented Belgium in an international competition in the Para-dressage events at the 2019 FEI European Championships in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, where he finished fifth in both the Individual Test Grade V [6] and the Freestyle Test Grade V.[7][8]

Van Ham was selected for both the 2020 and 2024 Summer Paralympics. In Tokyo, Japan he finished 7th in the Individual Test Grade V and 8th in the Freestyle Test Grade V.[9][10] In Paris, France he did better in both disciplines, finishing 6th in the Individual Test Grade V and 5th in the Freestyle Test Grade V.[11][12][13][14]

In 2020 he participated in his first FEI World Championships in Herning, Denmark finishing 4th in the Individual Test Grade V and 7th in the Freestyle Test Grade V.[9]

Personal life

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Van Ham is gay and lives with his partner Jeffrey.[2][15] He lives near Leuven and besides riding he also teaches and works full time in retail.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "KEVIN VAN HAM" (in Dutch). Belgian Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Para Equestrian Digest: Kevin van Ham". FEI. 28 November 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Überherrn 11 - 14/07/2019". FEI. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Stadl Paura 28 - 30/06/2019". FEI. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  5. ^ "Kevin Van Ham" (in Dutch). G-sport Vlaanderen. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  6. ^ "Longines FEI Para Dressage European Championship Individual Test Grade V". www.longinestiming.com. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Longines FEI Para Dressage European Championship Freestyle Test Grade V". www.longinestiming.com. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Getting to Know... Kevin van Ham". www.eurodressage.com. 20 June 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  9. ^ a b "VAN HAM KEVIN". Paris 2024 Paralympics. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Ruiter Kevin Van Ham kan niet verrassen en wordt 8e in de dressuurfinale" (in Dutch). Sporza. 30 August 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  11. ^ "INDIVIDUAL EVENT - GRADE V RESULTS". www.olympics.com. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  12. ^ "NDIVIDUAL FREESTYLE EVENT - GRADE V RESULTS". www.olympics.com. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  13. ^ "JP Paris 2024 - Deuxième médaille d'or pour la Belgique grâce à la victoire de Michèle George en para-dressage : "Je suis super émue"" (in French). Sporza. 4 September 2024. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  14. ^ "Jeux Paralympiques - Une belle cinquième place pour Kevin Van Ham en freestyle: "Ça s'est bien passé"" (in French). La DH Les Sports+. 7 September 2024. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  15. ^ "Kevin van Ham on Finding His Own as a Para Rider and Gay Person: "Always be yourself…"". www.eurodressage.com. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
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