| Nicknames |
Mil (Athlete, 28 Aug 2021) |
| Hobbies |
Skiing, flying planes. (Athlete, 28 Aug 2021) |
| Memorable sporting achievement |
Winning gold in the freestyle event at the 2021 CHI Al Shaqab in Doha, Qatar. (Athlete, 28 Aug 2021) |
| Most influential person in career |
Her coach Helen Langehanenberg, her parents. (Athlete, 28 Aug 2021) |
| Hero / Idol |
German dressage rider Helen Langehanenberg. (Athlete, 28 Aug 2021) |
| Injuries |
In 2016 she fractured her left ankle. (Athlete, 28 Aug 2021)
In 2015 she fractured her left elbow. (Athlete, 28 Aug 2021)
In 2014 she suffered spinal fractures to her T4, T5, T6, T8, T9 and T12 vertebrae. (Athlete, 28 Aug 2021)
In 2013 she underwent reconstruction and transplant surgery on her tibialis posterior muscle, ankle stabilisation, fibula reconstruction and calcaneus [heel] modification. (Athlete, 28 Aug 2021)
In 2012 she underwent reconstruction and transplant surgery on her perineal tendon. (Athlete, 28 Aug 2021)
In 2008 she had a fall during a show jumping competition, hitting her head and falling unconscious. She was taken to hospital and placed into an induced coma on life support. She survived but was left with minor brain damage. (equestrianma.com, 01 Jan 2021)
In 2007 she broke her elbow and wrist. (Athlete, 28 Aug 2021)
In 2006 she broke her left clavicle [collarbone]. (Athlete, 28 Aug 2021) |
| Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs |
She always rides with a guardian angel ornament that her grandmother bought her following her accident. (Athlete, 28 Aug 2021) |
| Sporting philosophy / motto |
"Ride for you. It's your moment so take it with both hands and leave nothing to chance." (Athlete, 28 Aug 2021) |
| Ambitions |
To compete at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (Instagram profile, 31 Jul 2021) |
| Impairment |
In 2010 she was involved in a car accident which caused permanent injuries to her legs, upper body and spine. "Just before I was around the corner, I could see the front of a car closing in on me. My eyes focused in on the front grill of the car speeding towards me. There was this split second when I realised this oncoming car was completely on my side of the road. And that was it. I had nowhere to go. I was really calm at first. I remember saying to the driver and the nurse who had stopped to help me, 'You have to find my phone. I need to call my mum and dad and tell them I'm going to be late getting home'. It's really quite funny where your mind goes. I was concerned that I would be late for dinner. It was late in the evening when they got me to the ER, and the doctors warned us that [left leg] amputation was a very real possibility. I absolutely begged them, 'Please don't. I have my riding, you have to save it.'" (awequestrian.com, 24 Mar 2020; fei.org, 10 Apr 2021; noellefloyd.com, 23 Jan 2020) |
| Other information |
MOVING TO GERMANY
Shortly after taking up Para equestrian dressage she moved from her home in Australia to Germany in the aim of improving herself as a rider. "I have a very close connection to Germany. My grandparents immigrated to Australia, and it took them a long time to learn English. Because of this, I grew up with a heavy German influence. I officially moved at the end of 2015. The idea behind it was to really learn the ins-and-outs of professional dressage, and maybe do a show or two to gain experience and improve my riding confidence. It was a huge shock. I thought I was a reasonable rider, but I look back now and realise that it was totally different. All of a sudden I was having to learn to sit the trot on these purpose-bred dressage horses with a totally different way of going [than my former event horses]. I had no core muscles and no strength and I was exhausted. I would come home from training and sleep on the lounge, I was so tired. I met European Para riders for the first time and realised how much of a professional sport it actually is and how much these people train. And I realised very quickly if I wanted to be serious about it, we really had to step up - not just the training, but I had to step up my own management. I equate myself to a horse with injuries, and we manage horses so well, and I never managed myself, I was so naive. I saw these other Para riders and how much time they commit to the sport and the profession and what they do to manage themselves. It was mind boggling. I realised that I was nowhere near where I needed to be if I wanted to be serious about it." (noellefloyd.com, 23 Jan 2020)
FURTHER EDUCATION
She has studied for a master's degree in law at the University of New England in Armidale, NSW, Australia. She has also studied for a bachelor's degree in criminal justice at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia. (awequestrian.com, 24 Mar 2020; Athlete, 28 Aug 2021) |
FEI Database
www.awequestrian.com 
www.facebook.com/awdressage 
instagram.com/amelia.a.white 
