Meet Mia Rodier-Dawallo

Mia Rodier-Dawallo is one of the most inspiring people I have met. A beautiful vibrant smile, this woman not only lights up the room but also the arena. It isn’t often that you see people smiling ear to ear while riding a dressage test in a heavy competition, but Mia manages to do just that. A light of sunshine and a brilliant soul using her story to ignite her to fight for her dreams.

First generation American, daughter of a Persian refugee, advocate and assault survivor, Mia is an international Para Dressage rider who has overcome every obstacle placed in her way. Mia, a survivor of domestic abuse, endured a brutal attack in 2013, which left her with a severe brain injury and PTSD. A year later, she survived a car accident which left her permanently disabled. Mia had to relearn to speak, read, and write. She describes it as, “her hard-drive being wiped clean and having to start her entire life over.” After years of rehabilitation, Mia fought her way back, becoming the USA Para Dressage Champion 2022, all while donning her signature ear-to-ear smile and proudly representing underdogs everywhere.

Throughout her life, it has been Mia’s dream to represent USA at the Paralympic Games, a goal she is now in serious contention of achieving for Paris 2024. If Mia qualifies, she will be the first ever person of colour to represent the US in Dressage or Para Dressage at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. She hopes to inspire other women and girls of colour to follow their dreams no matter how steep the mountain may seem.