Nina Ligon

Nina Rujiraporn Lamsam Ligon
Personal information
Born (1991-10-08) 8 October 1991
Bangkok, Thailand
Medal record
Eventer
Asian Games
2010 Guangzhou Team
Southeast Asian Games
2007 Nakhon Ratchasima Team
2007 Nakhon Ratchasima Individual

Nina Ligon, Thai name Rujiraporn Lamsam Ligon (Thai: รุจิราภรณ์ ล่ำซำ ลีเกิ้น (ณีนา); born 8 October 1991) is a Thai-American equestrian, who competed for Thailand in the Individual eventing at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[1][2] She was the first female equestrian to represent an Asian country in the equestrian events at the Olympic Games.[3]

A dual US and Thai national, she is the youngest daughter of American businessman Austin Ligon and Samornmitr Lamsam (a daughter of Thai banker Kasem Lamsam).[4] After being part of the US junior eventing team, the Thailand Equestrian Association invited her to compete for Thailand.[5] At the 2007 Southeast Asian Games, she won the individual eventing event, and was part of the Thai team that won the team gold medal.[3] At the 2010 Asian Games, Ligon was part of the Thai team that won silver, finishing 4th individually.[5][6] In 2011, she was awarded the FEI Rising Star Award, which is given to equestrians aged 14-21 who demonstrate talent and determination.[5]

At the 2012 Olympic Games, she rode Butts Leon, who was previously ridden by Andres Dibowski at the 2008 Olympics.[3] The pair finished 41st out of 75.[3] Following the London Olympics, she began a degree at Stanford University.[3]

References

  1. ^ London2012.com Archived 2012-07-30 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "Results for Miss Nina Ligon". British Eventing. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d e Fan, Pan Pan. "Road to the Olympics: Nina Ligon, Equestrian". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  4. ^ "ณีนา..." Post Today (in Thai). 1 August 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  5. ^ a b c "Nina Ligon Wins The FEI HSBC Rising Star Award". USEA : United States Eventing Association Inc. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  6. ^ "Team Results - Equestrianism at the 2010 Asian Games". FEI Database. Retrieved 22 July 2022.