Danish Olympian Lars Petersen Becomes a U.S. Citizen

Danish Olympic dressage rider Lars Petersen has officially become an American citizen. Petersen took the oath of allegiance for naturalized citizens and was sworn in as a United States citizen on 4 February 2015.

“Words can not express how excited happy emotional and honored to announce that my wonderful husband is now an American Citizen,” said Lars’ American wife Melissa Taylor, addding, “Or what Hans-Henning Dressler called him “Ameridanski”.”

The Danish born Petersen represented his native country Denmark at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. The now 50-year old Lars Petersen moved to the U.S.A. in 2002. He was originally based at Irwin Le Pow’s yard in Virginia but quickly relocated to Florida. Petersen married U.S. FEI rider Melissa Taylor in Mountain Village, Colorado, on their skiing holiday in December 2013.

“Lars will continue to ride for Denmark while campaigning Mariett,” Taylor explained. “He will

definitely switch after that but their is a “sit down or wait period ” of 1 full year as per FEI rules.”