Belinda Trussell took culinary management, but learned she hated cooking

Former George Brown student Belinda Trussell and her horse Anton put in strong performances at the Rio Olympics on Thursday and Friday, finishing 27th the Individual Dressage Grand Prix Special event.

The Australian-born rider, who, according to her website, moved to Canada in 1987, scored a 72.325, placing higher in the competition than her 34th place ranking with the Fédération Equestre Internationale. The Stouffville, Ontario-based athlete qualified for the special event with a 72.214 at Thursday’s Grand Prix event. It was Trussell’s second Olympic appearance having also competed in Athens in 2004.

Trussell took culinary management at George Brown, but according to her profile on the Canadian Olympic site, that was before she realized that she hated cooking. While avoiding the chef’s hat, Trussell collected a silver medal as part of the Canadian Dressage team in the Pan Am Games, and Canada’s record for the highest score in a Grand Prix Special event, both in 2015. Last year, Anton won Horse Canada’s Dressage Horse of the Year award.

Trussell has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto.

Fellow Canadian competitor Megan Lane and her horse Caravella finished Thursday’s Grand Prix with a score of 71.286, and did not qualify for the Grand Prix Special.