23 August 2010 – For the first time in history a female athlete from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has competed at an Olympic event. Dalma Rushdi Malhas, a member of the Saudi Youth Olympic Games Team, participated in the Equestrian competition this week. Her participation has been facilitated by the FEI working in conjunction with the IOC to widen the participation quota.

Dalma competed in the two rounds of the Team competition hors concours (out of competition) as she was not part of an official team, picking up 16 faults in the first round and then going clear in the second when she was first into the arena. She had her first taste of full Olympic competition yesterday in the opening round of the individual, completing with just four faults. She is now in equal 10th place going into tomorrow’s individual final, the equivalent of one fence behind the nine riders on zero who are battling it out for individual glory.

FEI President, HRH Princess Haya said, “We in the FEI are enormously proud to have one of our athletes record this historic event.”

Media Contacts:

Richard Johnson (in Singapore)

FEI Director Corporate Communications

Tel: +41 787 506 122

Email: richard.johnson@fei.org

Grania Willis
FEI Director Press Relations
Tel: +41 787 506 142
Email: grania.willis@fei.org