Olympian Abi Lyle described the stress and emotion she has faced over the last several days as she and her horse Giraldo, known as Arty, prepared to compete for Ireland in the individual dressage.
The pair put in a tremendous mistake-free performance for a sixth place group finish in the individual dressage, the pinnacle so far of a remarkable career that began in the immediate aftermath of a terrible nine-month relationship with killer Jonathan Creswell.
Ms Lyle (39), originally from Bangor, scored 69.441 in the Dressage Grand Prix at Chateau de Versailles outside Paris, ten years after making her international debut and 15 since surviving the relationship with Creswell.
Creswell (36) took his own life in April after the first day of his trial for the murder and rape of young showjumper Katie Simpson.
As she prepared for the Olympics, and after Creswell’s death, Ms Lyle spoke publicly about her relationship with Creswell, whom she described as “an incredibly violent and abusive individual”.
She told the BBC of being regularly beaten, leaving her body bruised all over and looking “like a Dalmatian”. Creswell served a six month jail sentence in 2010 after pleading guilty to assaulting Ms Lyle. She feared for her life and believed he would kill someone one day.
But on Tuesday in Paris, following her routine which is unlikely to see her qualify for the next round, Ms Lyle said: “So here we are but with an amazing ride as well, I can’t even fathom it.”
In an interview with Horse and Hound magazine, she said : “I’m going to fall when I go back to the stable. I’ve been emotional for days, it’s been a wild ride of feeling overwhelmed and then excited and then nervous.
“But I’ve just been trying to remind myself how lucky I am to have a horse like that. I’ve got these amazing people that have been with me for this whole journey and they’re with me now – I just feel so grateful.”
Ms Lyle added: “”Personally, I’ve been trying to protect myself in my own little Olympic bubble because this has been a big struggle for me. It’s been a difficult and stressful run-up and I do get nervous.”
The showjumper, who is not from an equine background, first began riding after persuading her parents to buy her a horse when she was 16 after completing her GSCEs.
She went to Queen’s University to study English and Film but dropped out to work as a groom in a racing yard. This was when she met Creswell.
Following her brave decision to go to the police and end the relationship, Ms Kyle moved to England in 2009 to work and train in an equestrian school.
She has trained under former Olympian Carl Hester, who helped her to elevate and compete internationally. Following her 2014 international debut she had to wait and work before making a big breakthrough completing in the World Championships in 2022 with Arty.
