{{Short description|British swimmer and equestrian}} {{Use British English|date=August 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name = Suzanna Hext | image = Suzanna_Hext_with_medals.jpg | alt = | caption = Hext with Wiltshire Air Ambulance helicopter and crew at their airbase in Semington | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|09|11|df=y}}<ref name="British Swimming"/><ref name="FEI"/> | birth_place = Truro, Cornwall, England | death_date = | death_place = | education = | alma_mater = | occupation = | years_active = <!-- Sport --> | country = United Kingdom | sport = Swimming <br> Equestrian | disability = | disability_class = S5, SB4 (swimming) <br> Grade III (equestrian) | event = Freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke (swimming) <br> Dressage (equestrian) | event_type = <!-- Achievements and titles --> | worlds = 2019 (swimming) | regionals = 2017 (equestrian) | nationals = | paralympics = 2020 (swimming) | highestranking = | pb = <!-- Medal record --> | show-medals = y | medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry | {{GBR2}} }} {{MedalSport|Para swimming}} {{MedalCompetition|World Championships}} {{MedalGold|2023 Manchester|50m freestyle S5}} {{MedalSilver|2019 London|50m freestyle S5}} {{MedalSilver|2023 Manchester|100m freestyle S5}} {{MedalBronze|2019 London|100m freestyle S5}} {{MedalSport|Equestrian}} {{MedalCompetition|FEI European Championships}} {{MedalGold|2017 Gothenburg|Grade III Championship}} {{MedalGold|2017 Gothenburg|Grade III Freestyle}} {{MedalGold|2017 Gothenburg|Mixed Team}} }}
'''Suzanna Hext''' (born 11 September 1988)<ref name="British Swimming">{{cite web |url=https://www.britishswimming.org/athlete-swimming-profiles/para-swimming-profiles/suzanna-hext/ |title=Suzanna Hext |work=British Swimming |access-date=12 December 2023 |quote=DOB: 11 Sep 1988}}</ref><ref name="FEI">{{cite web |url=https://bios.fei.org/bios/Person/10031756 |title=Suzanna Hext |website=FEI.org |publisher=International Federation for Equestrian Sports |access-date=12 December 2023 |quote=Date of Birth: 11/09/1988}}</ref> is a British Paralympic swimmer and equestrian, who won three gold medals in dressage at the 2017 FEI European Championships, and two medals at both the 2019 and 2023 World Para Swimming Championships. She finished fourth in two S5 swimming events at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.
==Personal life== Hext is from Truro, Cornwall.<ref name=BBC>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/58187268 |title=Suzanna Hext: Paralympic swimmer prepares for Tokyo 2020 having watched London 2012 from hospital |work=BBC Sport |date=24 August 2021 |accessdate=26 August 2021 |archive-date=26 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826072632/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/58187268 |url-status=live}}</ref> and has also lived near Sherston, Wiltshire.<ref name=WG>{{cite news |url=https://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/15034816.new-5m-airbase-for-wiltshire-air-ambulance-gets-full-planning-permission/ |title=New £5m airbase for Wiltshire Air Ambulance gets full planning permission |work=Wilts & Glos Standard |date=19 January 2017 |accessdate=26 August 2021 |archive-date=26 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826174400/https://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/15034816.new-5m-airbase-for-wiltshire-air-ambulance-gets-full-planning-permission/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2012, she was paralysed in a horse riding accident, and required the use of a wheelchair.<ref name=Sky>{{cite news |url=https://news.sky.com/story/hopeful-paralympian-turns-parents-living-room-into-gym-to-help-make-dream-come-true-12170232 |title=Hopeful Paralympian turns parents' living room into gym to help make 'dream come true' |work=Sky News |date=3 January 2021 |accessdate=26 August 2021 |archive-date=26 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826170825/https://news.sky.com/story/hopeful-paralympian-turns-parents-living-room-into-gym-to-help-make-dream-come-true-12170232 |url-status=live}}</ref> She watched the 2012 Summer Paralympics from her hospital bed.<ref name=BBC/><ref name=Sky/> In November 2021, she had a cochlear implant.
Hext is an ambassador of Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity, the service that airlifted her to a hospital following a horse riding accident in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Charity |first=Suzanna Hext {{!}} Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance |title=Suzanna Hext |url=https://www.wiltshirebathairambulance.org.uk/our-lifesaving-work/our-team/suzanna-hext |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity |language=en}}</ref>
==Equestrian career== In equestrian, Hext competes in the Grade III classification.<ref name=HH>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/individual-gold-bronze-britain-day-one-gothenburg-629714 |title=Individual gold and bronze for Britain on day one in Gothenburg |magazine=Horse & Hound |date=21 August 2017 |accessdate=26 August 2021 |archive-date=26 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826171827/https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/individual-gold-bronze-britain-day-one-gothenburg-629714 |url-status=live}}</ref> She won three gold medals in dressage at the 2017 FEI European Championships,<ref name=BBC/> winning the individual,<ref name=HH/> team<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/britain-wins-european-para-dressage-gold-629940 |title=Britain wins European gold against the odds |magazine=Horse & Hound |date=22 August 2017 |accessdate=26 August 2021 |archive-date=26 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826173330/https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/britain-wins-european-para-dressage-gold-629940 |url-status=live}}</ref> and freestyle events.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/suzanna-hext-completes-golden-hat-trick-european-para-dressage-championships-630017 |title=Suzanna Hext completes a golden hat-trick at the European Para Dressage Championships |magazine=Horse & Hound |date=23 August 2017 |accessdate=26 August 2021 |archive-date=26 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826171829/https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/suzanna-hext-completes-golden-hat-trick-european-para-dressage-championships-630017 |url-status=live}}</ref> She competed in the team event alongside Sophie Wells, Erin Orford and Julie Payne, and it was her first European Championship.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1054424/britain-retain-team-para-dressage-european-title |title=Britain retain team Para-dressage European title |publisher=Inside the Games |date=22 August 2017 |accessdate=26 August 2021 |archive-date=27 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827050815/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1054424/britain-retain-team-para-dressage-european-title |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018, she was part of the British team that won the team event at the {{lang|fr|Pole International du Cheval}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.paralympic.org/news/sophie-christiansen-returns-style |title=Sophie Christiansen returns in style |publisher=International Paralympic Committee |date=10 April 2018 |accessdate=26 August 2021 |archive-date=26 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826174357/https://www.paralympic.org/news/sophie-christiansen-returns-style |url-status=live}}</ref>
==Swimming career== Hext started swimming in 2017,<ref name=Swimming.org>{{cite web |url=https://www.swimming.org/sport/500-days-paralympics/ |title=British para-swimmers keep fit with 500 days to go until Tokyo Paralympics |publisher=Swimming.org |date=11 April 2020 |accessdate=26 August 2021 |archive-date=26 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826174358/https://www.swimming.org/sport/500-days-paralympics/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and has trained at Swindon swimming club, and at the Manchester Aquatics Centre.<ref name=BBC/> As of 2024, Hext trained at the University of Bath.<ref name=Inside24>{{cite web| url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1145463/from-university-bath-paris-paralympics| title=From the University of Bath to the Paris Paralympics| publisher=Inside the Games| date=21 May 2024| accessdate=19 July 2014}}</ref> Hext is the British record holder in S5 50 metre and 100 metre freestyle events, and in S4 100 metre backstroke.<ref name=BBC/>
At the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships, Hext came second in the 50 metre freestyle event, and third in the 100 metre freestyle competition.<ref name=BBC/><ref name=Games/> In 2020, she decided to participate in swimming qualifying for the 2020 Summer Paralympics, rather than equestrian.<ref name=Games>{{cite web |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1091015/hext-swimming-tokyo-2020-paralympics |title=British rider looking to compete in swimming rather than equestrian at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics |publisher=Inside the Games |date=24 February 2020 |accessdate=26 August 2021 |archive-date=31 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831014049/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1091015/hext-swimming-tokyo-2020-paralympics |url-status=live}}</ref> During the COVID-19 pandemic, she turned her parents' house into a gym,<ref name=Sky/> and was able to use jockey AP McCoy's private pool,<ref name=BBC/> as well as swimming in the Cornish sea.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/suzanna-hext-tokyo-paralympics-swimming-751010 |title=Medal-winning rider selected to swim at Tokyo: 'riding helped me believe in myself again' |magazine=Horse & Hound |date=3 July 2021 |accessdate=26 August 2021 |archive-date=26 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826171828/https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/suzanna-hext-tokyo-paralympics-swimming-751010 |url-status=live}}</ref>
At the 2020 Summer Paralympics, Hext had an asthma attack that caused her to be hospitalised.<ref name=Guardian>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/aug/26/kearney-and-summers-newton-smash-world-records-to-claim-paralympic-golds |title=Kearney and Summers-Newton smash world records to claim Paralympic gold |work=The Guardian |date=26 August 2021 |accessdate=26 August 2021 |archive-date=26 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826114440/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/aug/26/kearney-and-summers-newton-smash-world-records-to-claim-paralympic-golds |url-status=live}}</ref> As a result, she was withdrawn from the British team for the mixed 4 × 50 metre freestyle relay 20pts.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.swimming.org/sport/tokyo-2020-paralympics-day-two-finals/ |title=Records fall as golden GB swimmers shine on second day of Paralympics |work=Swimming.org |date=26 August 2021 |accessdate=26 August 2021 |archive-date=26 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826170829/https://www.swimming.org/sport/tokyo-2020-paralympics-day-two-finals/ |url-status=live}}</ref> She came fourth in the finals of the 200 metre freestyle S5<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/uk-sport/19536144.tully-kearney-reece-dunn-toni-shaw-secure-paralympicsgb-medals-pool/ |title=Tully Kearney, Reece Dunn and Toni Shaw secure ParalympicsGB medals in pool |work=The Herald |date=25 August 2021 |accessdate=26 August 2021 |archive-date=26 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826171827/https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/uk-sport/19536144.tully-kearney-reece-dunn-toni-shaw-secure-paralympicsgb-medals-pool/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and 100 metre freestyle S5 events.<ref name=Guardian/> After further asthma attacks, Hext withdrew from the 100m breaststroke SB4 and 50m backstroke S5 events.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/58374292 |title=Tokyo Paralympics: Suzanna Hext pulls out of Tokyo Games with health problems |work=BBC Sport |date=29 August 2021 |accessdate=30 August 2021 |archive-date=29 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829234825/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/58374292 |url-status=live}}</ref>
Hext did not compete at the 2022 World Para Swimming Championships after developing sepsis whilst training in Lanzarote, Canary Islands.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://swimswam.com/after-sepsis-at-training-camp-britains-suzanna-hext-withdraws-from-worlds/ |title=AFTER SEPSIS AT TRAINING CAMP, BRITAIN'S SUZANNA HEXT WITHDRAWS FROM WORLDS |publisher=SwimSwam |date=1 June 2022 |accessdate=9 June 2022}}</ref> She was included in the British squad for the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/65075700 |title=World Para-swimming Championships: Bethany Firth leads 28-member British squad |work=BBC Sport |date=27 March 2023 |accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> She won the 50 metre freestyle S5 event at the World Championships,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britishswimming.org/news/para-swimming-news/brits-clean-sweep-womens-s14-200m-free-opening-night/ |title=Brits clean sweep women's s14 200m free on opening night |publisher=British Swimming |date=31 July 2023 |accessdate=1 August 2023}}</ref> and finished second in the 100 metre freestyle S5 competition.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/disability-sport/66422621.amp |title=Para Swimming World Championships: Ellie Challis wins sixth medal as Britain finish strongly |work=BBC Sport |date=6 August 2023 |accessdate=7 August 2023}}</ref>
Hext was selected for the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris.<ref name=Inside24/> A few days before her first event, Hext withdrew from the Paralympics for medical reasons.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cn49ggd98jqo| title=Swimmer Hext to miss Paris 2024 on medical advice| publisher=BBC Sport| date=30 August 2024| accessdate=8 July 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{British Swimming para-swimmer|suzanna-hext}} * {{FEI}} * {{BPA|suzanna-hext}} * {{IPC}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hext, Suzanna}} Category:1988 births Category:Living people Category:British female freestyle swimmers Category:British female equestrians Category:Paralympic swimmers for Great Britain Category:Swimmers at the 2020 Summer Paralympics Category:Sportspeople from Truro Category:Medalists at the World Para Swimming Championships Category:S5-classified para swimmers Category:People educated at Millfield Category:English female freestyle swimmers Category:English female equestrians Category:Sportspeople from Wiltshire Category:21st-century English sportswomen