Rodrigo Pessoa became, at the age of 26, the youngest rider to win the world championship when he took the title with, Gandini Lianos in Rome in 1998. He is also the only rider in the world to win both indoor and outdoor championships in the same year. Three times World Cup champion with his horse, Baloubet Du Rouet (1998, 1999, 2000), they are the only horse and rider combination to win the final three years in succession. The two missed out on a record fourth win in a gut-wrenching jump off with Markus Fuchs in 2001. They finished 3rd in last years World cup final in Leipzig, and they finished 2nd this year, 2003 in Las Vegas. At the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Pessoa received a silver medal for the individual competition. Pessoa’s other high points include, winning team bronze with his other horse Brazil in Atlanta and Sydney.

Pessoa, a big formula 1 racing fan, also enjoys playing golf when he takes a break from training.