Nelson Pessoa Filho (born December 16, 1935) is a Brazilian equestrian who competed in the sport of

Show jumping Show jumping is a part of a group of English riding equestrian events that also includes eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes are commonly seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics. Sometimes shows ar ...

. He was among the first Brazilian civilians to do well in the sport, as the military had dominated it in the Brazil of that era.

Career highlights

He competed in the

1956 Summer Olympics The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XVI Olympiad and officially branded as Melbourne 1956, were an international multi-sport event held in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia, from 22 November to 8 December ...

and came fifth in Equestrian at the 1964 Summer Olympics - Individual jumping. He moved to Europe in 1961. He won the 1966

European Show Jumping Championships The FEI European Show Jumping Championships is the European Championship for the equestrian discipline of show jumping. First held in 1957 in Rotterdam, and on an annual basis, it is held every two years, in the years between Olympic Games and Wo ...

and won twice at

Hickstead Hickstead may refer to: * All England Jumping Course at Hickstead, a show jumping venue in England * Hickstead (horse), an Olympic gold medal-winning show jumping horse * Hickstead, a hamlet in Twineham civil parish, in the Mid Sussex Distri ...

. He came second in the 1984

Show Jumping World Cup The International Federation for Equestrian Sports, FEI Show Jumping World Cup is an annual international competition among the world’s best show jumping horses and riders. The series, created in 1978, today comprises 14 leagues on all contine ...

, and in 1991 he was again second, riding

Special Envoy Diplomatic rank is a system of professional and social rank used in the world of diplomacy and international relations. A diplomat's rank determines many ceremonial details, such as the order of precedence at official processions, table seating ...

. In

1992 Summer Olympics The 1992 Summer Olympics (, ), officially the Games of the XXV Olympiad (, ) and officially branded as Barcelona '92, were an international multi-sport event held from 25 July to 9 August 1992 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Beginning in 1994 ...

Barcelona Barcelona ( ; ; ) is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second-most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within c ...

at 56 he was the oldest equestrian, while his 19-year-old son was the youngest. He owns a famous equestrian school at Haras du

Ligny Ligny (; ) is a village of Wallonia and a district of the municipality of Sombreffe, located in the province of Namur, Belgium. Previously its own municipality, a 1977 fusion of the Belgian municipalities made it an '' ancienne commune'' of So ...

Fleurus Fleurus (; ) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. It has been the site of four major battles. The municipality consists of the following districts: Brye, Heppignies, Fleurus, Lambusart, Saint-Am ...

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

. His students include Alvaro de Miranda Neto and Athina Onassis Miranda. His son is the Olympic gold medallist Rodrigo Pessoa. His nickname is Neco. He is the founder of Pessoa Brands; the Pessoa lines include their famous saddles, bridles, girths, blankets and tack.

References

External links

Rodrigo Pessoa (official)
1935 births Living people Brazilian male equestrians Brazilian show jumping riders Olympic equestrians for Brazil Equestrians at the 1956 Summer Olympics Equestrians at the 1964 Summer Olympics Equestrians at the 1968 Summer Olympics Equestrians at the 1972 Summer Olympics Equestrians at the 1992 Summer Olympics Pan American Games gold medalists in equestrian Pan American Games silver medalists in equestrian Pan American Games gold medalists for Brazil Pan American Games silver medalists for Brazil Equestrians at the 1959 Pan American Games Equestrians at the 1967 Pan American Games Medalists at the 1959 Pan American Games Medalists at the 1967 Pan American Games 20th-century Brazilian sportsmen {{Brazil-equestrian-bio-stub