Faisal Al Shalan

Faisal Al Shalan
picture of Prince Faisal Alshalan in the 2014 World Equestrian Games
Personal information
Full name	HH Prince Faisal Al Shalan
Nationality	Saudi Arabia
Discipline	Show jumping
Born	(1987-07-15) 15 July 1987 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight	73 kg (161 lb)
Medal record Equestrian Competitor for  Saudi Arabia Asian Games Silver 2014 Incheon Team jumping Pan Arab Games Gold 2011 Doha Team jumping Bronze 2011 Doha Individual jumping Islamic Solidarity Games Gold 2005 Jeddah Individual jumping Gold 2005 Jeddah Overall Individual jumping FEI Children's International Jumping Final Bronze 1999 Abu Dhabi Individual jumping

HH Prince Faisal Al Shalan (Arabic: الأمير فيصل الشعلان‎; born January 5, 1987 in Riyadh) is a Saudi Arabian equestrian rider, and a member of the Saudi Royal Family.^[1] He won several medals in show jumping events, including gold for the national equestrian team, at the 2011 Pan Arab Games in Doha, Qatar. He also obtained a silver medal in team jumping at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.^[2]

Equestrian career

Coming from the Saudi Royal Family, Al Shalan grew up around horses in his birthplace Riyadh, but derived a slight enjoyment with riding. At the age of seven, he won his first competition on his little white pony from England called Snowdrop, until he was bitten by a riding bug. While at elementary school, Al Shalan met Khaled Al Eid and Ramzy Al Duhami, who later served as his trainer for his career, in a summer clinic. Having tasted success, he progressed from ponies to horses, and claimed his first ever career title for the under-14 category at the Abu Dhabi World Championships.^[3]

In 2004, Al Shalan made his official debut in the international scene, when he reached the final of the King Abdulaziz Cup and Saudi Arabian Equestrian Championships. He achieved early successes by winning individual gold medals at the 2005 Islamic Games, and finishing second at the 2006 World Cup Arab League. Al Shalan also became the youngest ever competitor at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, riding on the Uthago in the individual and team events.^[3]

Al Shalan eventually competed on his another horse Wido, as a member of the Saudi Arabian equestrian team, at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He was eliminated at the second stage of qualifying rounds for the individual event, after knocking down eight fences and incurring three time penalties, which placed him in the bottom twenty places of a seventy-five strong field.^[4] Few hours later, Al Shalan helped his teammates Al Duhami, Kamal Bahamdan, and His Royal Highness Prince Abdullah Al Saud to an eleventh-place finish in the team event.^[5]

At the 2011 Pan Arab Games in Doha, Qatar, Al Shalan was awarded a gold medal after a spectacular performance in the team event, along with his fellow riders Bahamdan, Al Eid, and Al Saud. He continued to capture a bronze medal in the individual show jumping event, as he flew around the course with his 11-year old mare Aphrodite van het Rexelhof.^[2]

Personal life and education

Apart from his sporting career, Al Shalan acts as stable manager for Alia Inc. in France, which has 50 employees and 120 horses, and is the founder of a company dealing in photonuclear ray security equipment. He also manages and owns a farm and stable in Paris, France.

In May 2011, Al Shalan graduated from the University of Miami, with a BSBA Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, majoring in Mathematical economics. He's also currently getting his PhD in Economics & Strategy at Imperial College.^[3]

References

External links

• NBC Olympics Profile
• Profile – Saudi Equestrian
• Asian Games 2014