Rodrigo Pessoa is an equestrian who has competed for Brazil. He competed at the 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2020, and 2024 Summer Olympic Games. He became the first Brazilian athlete to ever participate in eight editions of the Summer Olympic Games and the second equestrian rider to attain such feat, following Ian Millar. He originally won a silver in the mixed individual jumping event at Athens 2004. Two months after the Games, a urine sample from the horse Waterford Crystal, ridden by Cian O'Connor, tested positive for prohibited substances, stripping the winner of his gold medal. Hence, Pessoa upgraded his spot to gold. Four years later in Beijing, he slipped off the podium to fourth spot in the same event but his horse Rufus tested positive for doping after the Games, resulting to his disqualification. He was selected to carry the Brazilian flag during the London 2012 opening ceremony.
His father Nelson Pessoa Filho was a member of the Brazilian jumping team for five editions of the Olympic Games between 1956 and 1992.
Olympic Results[]
| Year | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Mixed individual jumping | 9th |
| Mixed team jumping | 10th | |
| 1996 | Mixed individual jumping | 9th |
| Mixed team jumping | 
| |
| 2000 | Mixed individual jumping | 27th |
| Mixed team jumping |
| |
| 2004 | Mixed individual jumping | 
|
| Mixed team jumping | 9th | |
| 2008 | Mixed individual jumping | DQ |
| Mixed team jumping | DNF | |
| 2012 | Mixed individual jumping | 12th |
| Mixed team jumping | 8th | |
| 2020 | Mixed team jumping | 6th |
| 2024 | Mixed individual jumping | 28th |
| Mixed team jumping | DNF |
1992[]
| Discipline | Round | Run | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | Qualifying | Round 1 | 82.50 points |
| Round 2 | 56.00 points | ||
| Round 3 | 45.00 faults | ||
| Final | Round 1 | 4.00 faults | |
| Round 2 | 12.00 faults | ||
| Team | Final | Round 1 | 30.75 faults (0.00 faults) |
| Round 2 | 21.00 faults (8.00 faults) |
1996[]
| Discipline | Round | Run | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | Qualifying | Round 1 | 1.25 faults |
| Round 2 | 0.00 faults | ||
| Round 3 | 0.75 faults | ||
| Final | Round 1 | 4.00 faults | |
| Round 2 | 0.25 faults | ||
| Team | Final | Round 1 | 4.50 faults (0.00 faults) |
| Round 2 | 12.75 faults (0.75 faults) |
2000[]
| Discipline | Round | Run | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | Qualifying | Round 1 | 5.00 faults |
| Round 2 | 0.00 faults | ||
| Round 3 | 0.00 faults | ||
| Final | Round 1 | 0.00 faults | |
| Round 2 | EL | ||
| Team | Final | Round 1 | 12.00 faults (0.00 faults) |
| Round 2 | 12.00 faults (0.00 faults) | ||
| Jump-off | 0.00 faults (0.00 faults) |
2004[]
| Discipline | Round | Run | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | Qualifying | Round 1 | 5.00 faults |
| Round 2 | 0.00 faults | ||
| Round 3 | 9.00 faults | ||
| Final | Round 1 | 8.00 faults | |
| Round 2 | 0.00 faults | ||
| Jump-off | 4.00 faults | ||
| Team | Final | Round 1 | 16.00 faults (0.00 faults) |
| Round 2 | 37.00 faults (9.00 faults) |
2008[]
| Discipline | Round | Run | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | Qualifying | Round 1 | 1.00 fault |
| Round 2 | 0.00 faults | ||
| Round 3 | 6.00 faults | ||
| Final | Round 1 | 4.00 faults | |
| Round 2 | 4.00 faults | ||
| Jump-off | 0.00 faults | ||
| Team | Final | Round 1 | EL (0.00 faults) |
| Round 2 | Did not advance |
2012[]
| Discipline | Round | Run | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | Qualifying | Round 1 | 1.00 fault |
| Round 2 | 4.00 faults | ||
| Round 3 | 5.00 faults | ||
| Final | Round 1 | 4.00 faults | |
| Round 2 | 13.00 faults | ||
| Team | Final | Round 1 | 8.00 faults (4.00 faults) |
| Round 2 | 59.00 faults (5.00 faults) |
2020[]
| Discipline | Round | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Team | Qualifying | 25.00 faults (20.00 faults) |
| Final | 29.00 faults (Reserve) |
2024[]
| Discipline | Round | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | Qualifying | 0.00 faults |
| Final | Retired | |
| Team | Qualifying | EL (Withdrew) |
| Final | Did not advance |
 Equestrian 2020 • Team jumping
|
|---|
| Marlon Modolo Zanotelli |
| Yuri Mansur |
| Rodrigo de Paula Pessoa |
| Pedro Veniss |
| Equestrian 2024 • Team jumping
|
|---|
| Stephan de Freitas Barcha |
| Rodrigo Pessoa |
| Pedro Veniss |