Mary Hanna, 69, is the oldest rider at the 2024 Olympic Games. The substitute rider, who represents Australia in the equestrian discipline of dressage, has competed in six editions of the Olympic Games.
An Olympic career that began in 1996
Born Hanna Sutherland, Mary Hanna grew up in Melbourne and attended Macarthur State School in Victoria before continuing her studies at Melbourne’s Presbyterian Ladies’ College. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree, while maintaining her passion for horse riding. She is married to Rob Hanna, Team Manager of Equestrian Australia.
She began her career in equestrian dressage under the tutelage of Kyra Kyrklund and Clemens Dierks, and in 2023 was trained by Patrik Kittel.
Her Olympic career began in 1996 in Atlanta with Mosaic, followed by appearances at Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 with Limbo, London 2012 with Sancette, Rio 2016 with Boogie Woogie, and Tokyo 2020 with Calanta.
Doyenne of Olympic riders for 10 years
Over the years, Mary Hanna has achieved varied results at the Olympic Games. In 1996, she finished twenty-fourth in the individual event. In 2000, she finished thirty-fourth in the individual event and sixth in the team competition.
The 2004 Games saw her finish thirty-ninth in the individual event. In 2012, she came forty-third in the individual event and ninth in the team event, being the last Australian competitor to qualify for these Games.
At 61, she set a record by becoming the oldest Australian athlete to compete in the Olympic Games. This is still the case at the Paris Olympic Games, where at 69, she remains the oldest competitor.
Third at the Grand Prix CDI3 de Biarritz in 2011
In addition to her Olympic appearances, Mary Hanna has also shone in other international competitions. She finished third at the Grand Prix CDI3 de Biarritz in 2011 and seventh at the Grand Prix CDI3 de Compiègne in 2012. She also achieved good results in Hamburg, Mannheim and Vidauban in the same year.
In 2014, she qualified for the FEI World Cup dressage final in Lyon, where she placed fifteenth. At the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy, she finished tenth in team dressage and twenty-ninth in individual.
In 2016, she again qualified for the World Cup final in Gothenburg, where she came fifteenth. Later, at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, she finished ninth in the team event and thirty-ninth individually. Her longevity and success have earned her international recognition and a special place in the history of Australian equestrianism.
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