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The FEI Tribunal has issued its Final Decision in an equine anti-doping case involving a Banned Substance.
The horse Kassidy de Jansavis (FEI ID 104QP93/UAE), ridden by Omar Ibrahim AL Marzooqi (FEI ID 10137894/UAE) and trained by Abdul Kader Abdul Sattar (FEI ID 10032531/UAE), tested positive for the Banned Substance Diisopropylamine following samples taken at the CEI2*120 – Bou Thib (UAE), on 1-2 November 2019.
The athlete and trainer opened an investigation in order to discover the source of the banned substance found in the horse. The investigation revealed that the horse had been receiving supplement injections and that there had been a mix-up with the products administered, which led to the horse testing positive.
In its Final Decision, the FEI Tribunal disqualified the horse and athlete from the event, and imposed a two-year suspension on the athlete. The period of the provisional suspension of the athlete, which came into effect on 2 December 2019, shall be credited against the period of ineligibility, meaning he will be ineligible until 1 December 2021. The athlete was also fined CHF 5,000 and asked to pay costs of CHF 2,000.
The FEI Tribunal also imposed a four-year suspension on the trainer as this was his second equine anti-doping rule violation committed within the ten years span. The period of the provisional suspension of the trainer, which came into effect on 2 December 2019, shall be credited against the period of ineligibility, meaning he will be ineligible until 1 December 2023. The trainer was also fined CHF 12,000 and asked to pay costs of CHF 3,000.
The parties can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 21 days of receipt of the decision
The full Decision is available here.
An impressive list of nominees are in the race for the FEI Awards 2021 as the online public voting opens today for the Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete, Longines FEI Rising Star, Cavalor FEI Best Groom, FEI Against All Odds and FEI Solidarity Awards.
The 20 shortlisted candidates from 12 nations include Olympic and Paralympic medallists, up-and-coming young athletes, Grooms, Organising Committees, Veterinarians, National Federations and charities.
Peder Fredericson, who helped take Sweden to its first Team Jumping Olympic gold medal in almost 100 years in Tokyo, is one of four nominees for the FEI Best Athlete Award. The other nominees in this category are Eventing’s first female Olympic champion Julia Krajewski who won individual gold for Germany in Tokyo, and compatriot Jessica von Bredow-Werndl who took double Olympic gold in Dressage. Sir Lee Pearson, Great Britain’s ‘Godfather of Para Dressage’ and the most successful Para Dressage athlete of all time with 17 Paralympic medals, completes the list of nominees in this category.
The FEI received a diverse number of nominations for equestrian athletes, individuals and projects this year and the winners will be announced at a highly anticipated gala dinner in Antwerp (BEL) on 17 November. This will be the first in-person celebration of the winners since the FEI Awards Gala 2019 presented by Longines at the Kremlin in Moscow (RUS).
The Longines FEI Rising Star category includes Greta Busacker (GER) who is the daughter of 2020 winner of the decade and Eventing legend Ingrid Klimke. And for the first time ever, this year‘s nominees include two National Federations in the FEI Against All Odds and the FEI Solidarity categories.
The Japanese National Federation has been nominated for the support they provided to the Organising Committee of Tokyo 2020 to deliver safe and successful equestrian events, against all the odds created by the ongoing pandemic. The Hellenic Equestrian Federation nomination for the FEI Solidarity Award is in recognition of their efforts to evacuate 300 horses from areas in Greece rampaged by wildfires in August 2021.
The shortlisted nominees have been selected for their outstanding achievements on the field of play, inspirational outlook and unparalleled dedication to equestrian and para equestrian sport.
The amazing stories of all the nominees in the five categories can be found here.
The public now has 13 days (5 to 17 October) to cast their votes for their heroes. Make sure you have your say and vote here!
The shortlisted nominees for the FEI Awards 2021 are:
Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete - paying tribute to the athlete who over the past year has demonstrated exceptional skill and taken the sport to a new level.
Longines FEI Rising Star – for the youth athlete aged 14 to 21 who demonstrates outstanding sporting talent and commitment.
Cavalor FEI Best Groom - for the behind-the-scenes hero who ensures the horses they look after are given the best possible care.
FEI Against All Odds - for an inspiring individual who has pursued their equestrian ambitions and overcome challenges and obstacles along the way.
FEI Solidarity - for an FEI Solidarity or equestrian development project, an individual or organisation that has used skill, dedication and energy to expand the sport.
The winners will be decided by combining 50% of the public’s vote and 50% of the judges’ vote for the final result. The nine expert judges for this year’s FEI Awards are:
Winners at the FEI Awards Gala 2019 presented by Longines at the Kremlin in Moscow (RUS) (Copyright: FEI/Liz Gregg)
The FEI Tribunal has issued its Final Decision in a case of Abuse of Horse and Breach of the FEI Code of Conduct on the Welfare of the Horse.
The abuse case involved the horse Allegro (FEI ID 104QY43 /GER), ridden by Andre Schröder (FEI ID 10022310 /UKR), at the CSI1* in Samorin, Slovakia 6-9 May 2021.
FEI Officials reported to the FEI, that prior to the Grand Prix competition, the athlete used hind boots with sharp pressure points on his horse. Upon further inspection of the boots by the Chief Steward, it became visible that there were holes on the inside of the hind boots, containing sharp spikes. The athlete changed his statement a number of times and was ultimately issued a Yellow Warning Card onsite for Abuse of Horse. Further to a detailed review of the FEI Officials’ Reports, the FEI deemed that the seriousness of the offence warranted additional sanctions in accordance with the FEI General Regulations.
In its Final Decision, the FEI Tribunal disqualified the horse and athlete from the competition in question, and imposed a one-year suspension on the athlete starting from the date of this decision, 29 September 2021. The athlete was also fined CHF 5,000 and asked to pay costs of CHF 2,000.
The parties can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 21 days of receipt of the decision
The full Decision is available here.
Separately, the FEI has announced a new adverse analytical finding (AAF) involving an equine Prohibited Substance. The case involves a *Banned Substance under the FEI’s Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations (EADCMRs).
In the following Endurance case, the athlete has been provisionally suspended until the FEI Tribunal renders its decision. The horse has been provisionally suspended for two months from the date of notification.
Case: 2021/BS10
Horse: SPOOTNICK DAVRIL (FEI ID 104YN31/BEL)
Person Responsible: Raoul RONSMANS (FEI ID 10014170/BEL)
Event: CEI2* 70 + (2) - Monpazier (FRA), 27-29.08.2021
Date of sample collection: 27.08.2021
Prohibited Substance(s): O-desmethylvenlafaxine
Date of notification: 30 September 2021
Details on this case can be found here.
Notes to Editors:
FEI Equine Prohibited Substances
The FEI Prohibited Substances List is divided into two sections: Controlled Medication and *Banned Substances. Controlled Medication substances are those that are regularly used to treat horses, but which must have been cleared from the horse’s system by the time of competition. Banned (doping) Substances should never be found in the body of the horse and are prohibited at all times.
In the case of an adverse analytical finding (AAF) for a Banned Substance, the Person Responsible (PR) is automatically provisionally suspended from the date of notification (with the exception of certain cases involving a Prohibited Substance which is also a Specified Substance). The horse is provisionally suspended for two months.
Specified Substances
The FEI introduced the concept of Specified Substances in 2016. Specified Substances should not in any way be considered less important or less dangerous than other Prohibited Substances (i.e. whether Banned or Controlled). Rather, they are simply substances which are more likely to have been ingested by horses for a purpose other than the enhancement of sport performance, for example, through a contaminated food substance. Positive cases involving Specified Substances can be handled with a greater degree of flexibility within the structure of the FEI Regulations.
Information on all substances is available on the searchable FEI Equine Prohibited Substances Database.
The FEI has set in motion the Time To Beat campaign which highlights the hard work, dedication and perseverance of equestrian athletes who dedicate their lives to reaching World level sporting success.
Launched at the start of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2021-2022 season, the cross-media campaign brings together the FEI, its Top Partner Longines and the Organising Committees of the North American League and Western European League to celebrate the human and equine athlete journey to the elite levels of the sport.
“The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ competitions are full of edge-of-your-seat moments where winners can be determined by fractions of a second and it is this sporting drama which engages fans and keeps them coming back for more each season,” FEI Commercial Director Ralph Straus said.
“But these moments of brilliance are the culmination of years of hard work, patience and endless repetition. And when it comes down to that critical moment in a competition, it is the communication between the athlete and horse that is often the determining factor for a win. This horse-human connection takes years to create and it is this journey in time that we want to celebrate through the Time To Beat campaign.”
The video, released to mark the start of the campaign, connects the in-competition performance of the human and equine athletes with powerful images of the daily dedication and perseverance that athletes need to cultivate over time to reach their sporting goals.
“The values of the Time To Beat campaign resonate strongly with Longines as we know from first-hand experience that excellence can only come from years of commitment,” Longines Vice President Marketing Matthieu Baumgartner said.
“Perfection does take time and with our experience in creating digital engagement campaigns with the FEI over the past year, we can now tell this story in a more authentic way and deliver a message that people from diverse backgrounds, not just equestrian, can identify with.
“The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ has inspired large numbers of fans and we believe that by adding powerful initiatives like the Time To Beat campaign we can take equestrian sport to another level.”
The FEI’s partnership with Longines has come a long way since it became the International Federation’s Top Partner in 2012. The initial collaboration included a number of major rights packages including the Longines Jumping Rankings, the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™, FEI World Equestrian Games™ and the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™.
Over the years the partnership has grown to include Longines as Partner of the FEI Solidarity project on the retraining of racehorses as well as Title Partner of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ series and Presenting Partner of the FEI Awards Gala. In early 2019, Longines extended its agreement as Title Partner of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup North American League series.
The Time to Beat campaign has found strong support with the Organising Committees of the North American League and Western European League where Longines is the Title Partner. The first leg of the North American League for the 2021-2022 season will kick off in Langley, British Columbia (CAN) on 26 September while Oslo (NOR) will host the first leg of the Western European League on 17 October.
“The pandemic situation has brought home to the sports world that our lives can also change dramatically from one minute to the next,” said Chris Pack, President and Operations Director at the Thunderbird Show Park in Langley.
“While this campaign is meant to highlight the hard work that goes into the making of a sports star, it is also a celebration for our community who have worked hard to find solutions and ways to ensure that our athletes and fans have the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ competitions to enjoy.
“The Time to Beat campaign messages of persistence, tenacity and dedication are universal and we are looking forward to communicating these values to our local communities to bring them closer to the action and emotion that the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ competitions have to offer.”
Time to Beat will be a three-year campaign that will see a number of activations around the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ competitions to boost fan engagement and involvement.
“We are looking forward to working on this campaign, not just to increase the visibility of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ series but also to create a meaningful conversation around the power of equestrian sport,” said Tomas Torgersen, Show Director Gothenburg Horse Show.
“Both the human and equine athlete require a strong mental connection and it is this special bond that always shines through during the Longines FEI World Cup competitions. It’s always a magical moment when an athlete gets the best out of their horse at that crucial moment of the competition. It’s in those few seconds that World champions are created and we want the world to see and experience this with us.”
The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ was created in 1978 and is currently made up of 12 leagues across all continents. The top placed athlete-horse combinations from all Leagues are invited to attend the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final™ which will be held in Leipzig (GER) in April 2022.
The FEI Tribunal has issued its Final Decisions in two equine anti-doping case involving a Banned Substance and a Controlled Medication.
The horse Ger Ashir (FEI ID 103UH98 /KSA), ridden by Odai Alqurashi (FEI ID 10203848/KSA), tested positive for the Banned Substance Diisopropylamine following samples taken at the CEI1*100 - Riyadh (KSA), on 6-7 November 2020.
The athlete did not provide any explanation as to how the banned Substances entered the horse’s system.
In its Final Decision, the FEI Tribunal disqualified the horse and athlete from the event, and imposed a two-year suspension on the athlete. The period of the provisional suspension of the athlete, which came into effect on 9 December 2020, shall be credited against the period of ineligibility, meaning he will be ineligible until 8 December 2022. The athlete was also fined CHF 7,500 and asked to pay costs of CHF 2,000.
The parties can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 21 days of receipt of the decision
The full Decision is available here.
The horses Ger Ashir (FEI ID 103UH98 /KSA) and Takada Prince (FEI ID 104PB34/KSA), both trained by Munair Alfaqeih (FEI ID 10062545/KSA), respectively tested positive for the Banned Substance Diisopropylamine and the Controlled Medication Flunixin following samples taken at the CEI1*100 - Riyadh (KSA), on 6-7 November 2020.
The trainer did not provide any explanation as to how the substances entered the horse’s systems.
Since the two Rule Violations arose from the same Event the FEI was not able to notify the Trainer of the first Rule Violation before the second Rule Violation was committed, therefore the violations were considered together as one single first violation.
In its Final Decision, the FEI Tribunal imposed a two-year suspension on the trainer. The period of the provisional suspension the trainer, which came into effect on 9 December 2020, shall be credited against the period of ineligibility, meaning he will be ineligible until 8 December 2022. The trainer was also fined CHF 7,500 and asked to pay costs of CHF 2,000.
The parties can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 21 days of receipt of the decision
The full Decision is available here.
The FEI has received confirmation that all human and equine samples taken during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games have returned negative.
“I am very proud to be able to confirm that, for the third Games in succession, all human and equine samples taken during the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games have returned negative”, FEI President Ingmar De Vos said.
“This should of course be business as usual, but it would be naïve to think that clean Games are guaranteed in any sport. Of course, as with all sports in the Olympic Movement, the samples – including the equine ones – will be kept in storage for up to 10 years for potential retesting as improved processes are developed to test for substances that were not reliably detectable at the time of sampling.
“But, for now, this result validates all the work that has gone into the FEI Clean Sport educational campaign over the years, the buy-in of our National Federations and the uptake of equine pre-arrival testing and elective testing to ensure our horses would compete clean at the Games.”
The FEI President also reflected on phenomenal sport in Tokyo. “We can look back on incredible sport at Tokyo 2020, with truly great Olympic champions in all three disciplines and in the five Paralympic Grades – across both the team and individual competitions”, he said. “We are blessed with sensational athletes, both equine and human.
“All our medallists deserve huge congratulations, but not just the winners, as even getting to the Games was worthy of a medal. Athletes across all sports had to perform without the support of loved ones and fans, but at our two superb venues at Baji Koen and Sea Forest, the teams and their entourage generated a great buzz.
“There is no doubt that, despite the challenges, our sport triumphed in Tokyo and we received lots of very positive feedback. But, as always, there are plenty of lessons learnt and key takeaways. There will be a full debrief, which will of course include a comprehensive review of the formats. Part of that process will be taking into account the feedback we have already received and we are also proactively reaching out to our community to ensure we get extensive input. And we will use the learnings from these Games to take forward to Paris 2024.
"But, in the meantime, we all owe a huge debt of thanks to our Japanese hosts in Tokyo, and especially to the unbelievably hard-working and dedicated Organising Committee and the wonderful volunteers. Nothing was too much trouble for them and, while we couldn’t see the smiles behind the mandatory masks, we could feel the warmth in their hearts.
“Arigatōgozaimasu Tokyo, arigatōgozaimasu Japan!”
Clean Sport in Tokyo
Equine testing
Equine testing was conducted by the FEI at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games under the FEI Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations (EADCMRs) and FEI Veterinary Regulations.
At the Olympic Games, a total of 38 tests were carried out on 24 different horses, including all individual medallists and fourth-placed horses, plus at least one horse from medal-winning and fourth-placed teams. Random testing was also carried out, with horses selected by a random number generator app, and there was also targeted testing.
A total of 38 tests were carried out at the Paralympic Games on medal-winning horses, plus random and targeted testing.
Human testing
For Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) delegated the management of its entire anti-doping programme to the International Testing Agency (ITA).
The ITA is an independent not-for-profit anti-doping organisation. The FEI has a long-term agreement with the ITA, and delegates parts of its human anti-doping programme to the Agency, including testing coordination.
Human testing at the Paralympic Games was conducted by Tokyo 2020 on behalf of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
Notes to Editors:
FEI Clean Sport
The FEI’s Clean Sport campaign, started in 2010, is part of an ongoing educational outreach programme designed to simplify the FEI anti-doping regulations, which are based on World Anti-Doping Authority (WADA) principles.
This online communication campaign, which is available in eight languages (English, French, Chinese, German, Arabic, Russian, Spanish and Portuguese), is aimed at athletes, grooms, team and personal veterinarians, and other support personnel and includes key information on prohibited substances, the Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations, the testing process, and all related resources.
FEI Clean Sport - human athletes
The FEI is part of the collaborative worldwide movement for doping-free sport led by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The aim of this movement is to protect fair competition as well as athlete health and welfare.
WADA’s Prohibited List identifies the substances and methods prohibited in- and out-of-competition, and in particular sports. The substances and methods on the List are classified by different categories (e.g., steroids, stimulants, gene doping).
As a WADA Code Signatory, the FEI runs a testing programme for human athletes based on WADA’s List of Prohibited List of Substances and Methods and on the Code-compliant FEI Anti-Doping Rules for Human Athletes (ADRHA).
For further information, please consult the Clean Sport section of the FEI website here.
FEI Equine Prohibited Substances
The FEI Prohibited Substances List is divided into two sections: Controlled Medication and *Banned Substances. Controlled Medication substances are medications that are regularly used to treat horses, but which must have been cleared from the horse’s system by the time of competition. Banned (doping) Substances should never be found in the body of the horse and are prohibited at all times.
Information on all substances is available on the searchable FEI Equine Prohibited Substances Database.
About Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) www.fei.org
The FEI is the world governing body for horse sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and was founded in 1921. Equestrian sport has been part of the Olympic movement since the 1912 Games in Stockholm.
The FEI is the sole controlling authority for all international events in the Olympic sports of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing, as well as Driving, Endurance, Vaulting and Reining.
The FEI became one of the first international sports governing bodies to govern and regulate global para sport alongside its seven able-bodied disciplines when Para Dressage joined its ranks in 2006. The FEI now governs all international competitions for Para Dressage and Para Driving.
The Baji Koen Equestrian Park has won plaudits from the international equestrian community for the top notch facilities that have played a key role in the high quality of competition during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. But the Japan Racing Association (JRA) which owns and run the facilities, has far reaching plans to ensure barrier free access to equestrian sport.
JRA has worked towards the development and preparation of the Equestrian Park, not just with the delivery of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in mind, but also with a view to boosting the long term development of the sport.
“We began planning the re-development of the venue even before Tokyo won the right to host the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” adviser to the JRA’s horse-affairs division Takahiro Nishio explained.
“The Equestrian Park was not initially built to cater to the specific needs and requirements of people with disabilities. But through our preparations for the Paralympic Games, we have gained a better understanding of what we need to do to create a safe and welcoming structure which allows people with different impairments to fully enjoy all that equestrian sport has to offer.
“All our development plans have been created to include accessibility requirements for people with disabilities so that the Equestrian Park, which also functions as a city park, can bring clear benefits to our community even after the Paralympic Games have ended.”
Opened in 1940, the Equestrian Park was created to provide training for riders and horses, and to host equestrian competitions as well as educational and training programmes. The venue was scheduled to host the equestrian competitions at the 1940 Olympic Games which were cancelled on account of war. It was a natural choice for the equestrian events at the Olympic Games that were subsequently held in Tokyo in 1964.
While the original plan for equestrian put forward by the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee was for a temporary venue in the Tokyo Bay area, the JRA and the Japanese Equestrian Federation (JEF) pushed for the alternative which was to reuse the 1964 Olympic equestrian venue at Baji Koen. The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) were in full support of this as the Equestrian Park would deliver a more tangible and useful legacy for equestrian sport in Japan.
Post Paralympic Games, the JRA has ambitious plans to create pathways and programmes that allow riders engaged in therapeutic programmes to gradually move into Para Dressage competition. There are currently only a few therapeutic riding clubs in the country and the JRA wants to put in place the necessary structures that will allow these programmes to develop across Japan.
“The JRA has provided athletes at the Olympic and Paralympic Games with some incredible facilities in which to compete,” FEI Director of Games Operations Tim Hadaway said.
“JRA has gone over and above with their support and have provided specialists like veterinarians, farriers, footing maintenance staff and equestrian instructors. Through their affiliated companies, the JRA also provided feed and bedding, transportation of competition horses and turf maintenance advice for the field-of-play on the Sea Forest Cross Country Course to ensure the best possible conditions for the equestrian competitions.
“All the work the JRA has done to date is laying a solid foundation for the development of Para Equestrian sport in Japan and they have led the way by example, through their support of the Japan Para Dressage team.”
Mitsuhide Miyaji, Sho Inaba, Katsuji Taskashima and Soshi Yoshigoe are the four members of the Para Dressage team who trained and prepared for the Paralympic Games at the Equestrian Park and with the full support of the JRA.
Mitsuhide Miyaji, 63, used to work as an assistant trainer at the JRA before he suffered a stroke in July 2005 and was left without feeling on the right side of his body. Tokyo 2020 is his second Paralympic Games after Rio 2016, where he was the only equestrian representative from Japan.
A former jockey with the JRA, Katushi Takashima, 28, was injured during a race that left the right side of his body paralysed. He participated in the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 and Tokyo 2020 was his first appearance at a Paralympic Games.
Twenty six year-old Sho Inaba, who made his Paralympic debut in Tokyo 2020, was born with cerebral palsy that affected his lower limbs and he took up riding at the age of eight for rehabilitation in his hip joint. He represented his country at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 where he finished 14th.
The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games was also a first for 21 year-old Soshi Yoshigoe who is a student at Nippon Sport Science University. He took up horse riding as part of his rehabilitation programme but it was not until high school that he became interested in Para Dressage. Encouraged by the President of his University and colleagues, he has made his mark on the Para Equestrian scene in Japan.
All four athletes hope that the Paralympics will be the catalyst for the continued development of Para Equestrian and other disability sports in Japan.
“Until now, there has been little recognition of Para Sports in this country,” Mitsuhide Miyaji said.
“But the Paralympics have been a good opportunity for many people to learn about Para Equestrian and for them to see how people with various disabilities can get involved in the sport.
“There was no coverage of Para Equestrian Sport in Japan when I took part in the Paralympic Games in Rio 2016. But in the build up to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, there have been many live broadcasts in Japan because of the collaboration between the JRA and Green Channel, the Satellite Broadcasting Foundation for Horseracing, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
“This has allowed people to see for themselves what the sport has to offer. Also by having so many people in Japan involved in the organisation of the Paralympic Games, it has helped change the perception of Para Equestrian sport in the country.”
Photo credit: FEI/Christophe Taniere
Roxanne Trunnell (USA) broke the nine-year-old Grade I Paralympic Freestyle record tonight in a stunning Freestyle competition which also saw Sir Lee Pearson (GBR) take his third gold of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
The highest scoring podium
Grade I was the only Grade to have three athletes with a score of over 80% on the podium. Roxanne Trunnell (USA) scored 86.927% on Dolton to break the previous record of 84.750% set by Sophie Christiansen (GBR) in London 2012.
“I just wanted a nice test. It felt good with the music the whole time,” Roxanne said. “It’s been really nice. Everyone is so happy and friendly it makes everyone in the barn happy. It’s just fun. Everyone will be excited when we get home.”
The ever-brilliant Rihards Snikus (LAT) took his second silver in Tokyo on King of the Dance with 82.087%, doubtless prompting more demands for his DJing skills when he gets back home. For Rihards, these two medals more than make up for his disappointment at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. And third place went to Sara Morganti (ITA) on Royal Delight, with 81.100%.
Sir Lee makes it a golden 14
Sir Lee Pearson (GBR) became the most successful athlete in the entire competition by taking his third gold medal of Tokyo 2020, the 14th of his Paralympic career, in the Grade II Freestyle.
His relatively inexperienced and home-bred partner, Breezer, took him to a massive 82.447% to take the title ahead of Pepo Puch (AUT) who rode Sailor’s Blue to a score of 81.007%. Meanwhile Lee’s young teammate, Georgia Wilson (GBR), added another brilliant bronze to her collection on Sakura with 76.754%, which is not a bad result for the reserve rider who was called to Tokyo as a last minute replacement for Sophie Christiansen.
“Number 14, not that we’re counting,” laughed Lee. “I’m twice over the moon. I actually didn’t care if I medalled. That horse gave me his heart in there. He was so much braver than the team and individual test a few days ago. He was still nervous, and we had a tiny little spook when we entered but I said ‘come on we can do this’.”
Lee came to Tokyo with Breezer having had to retire from their selection event. “I’ve not managed to ride this Freestyle in a competition so I’ve been nervous for days. He’s brilliant. I’m taking the best horse home. I didn’t think I could love him any more than I did before but he’s beautiful, amazing.”
Sanne’s HAEVNly gold
Sanne Voets (NED) stormed to victory in the Grade IV Freestyle with a massive personal best score of 82.085% to win her class. Riding Demantur N.O.P. to the stirring music of Dutch artists HAEVN, she finished comfortably ahead of silver medallist Louise Etzner Jakobbson (SWE) who scored 75.935% on Goldstrike B.J. Manon Claeys (BEL) took bronze on San Dior 2 with 75.680%.
Louise’s silver was even more remarkable given that she broke her leg falling off her bike just a couple of months ago, and only got back on a horse to ride two weeks ago during the horses’ quarantine in Aachen (GER).
Speaking after her ride, Sanne said: “I’m not sure I can find the right words. I was really focussed and normally when I first enter a test I try to make eye contact with the judge. I never did that here it was just me and my horse and the music. It was a bit like hypnosis. It felt powerful and soft and relaxed and confident. Sometimes when you ride a test you’re thinking ‘what do I do now?’ but it was like it just happened to me. It felt like we found that true harmony and it was the two of us and no one else.”
Michele’s golden double
Michele George (BEL) was dominant again in the Grade V Freestyle, defending her London 2012 and Rio 2016 titles with aplomb. She scored 80.590% on Best of 8 to pip Frank Hosmar (NED) to the title by just 0.350 of a point. Frank, riding Alphaville N.O.P. scored 80.240 to take the silver, while Regine Mispelkamp (GER) took bronze with 76.820 on Highlander Delight’s.
“I’m really blown away. The mare is just fantastic. What can I say, I’m a bit speechless because coming over here with a young horse and showing the world what she’s capable of is just genius. I knew she could, but I thought maybe it was a bit early to show everyone because at home she can work like a queen but at home is at home.”
Michele went into the arena just after Frank had posted his great score. “Once you’re riding into the arena you don’t look at that,” she said. “I know he had a high score but I thought the mare feels good, so I came into the arena and tried to make something even better. That’s the spirit.”
Tobias’s double delight
In the second highest winning score of the night, Tobias Thorning Jorgensen (DEN) rode Jolene Hill to his second gold of the Paralympic Games in the Grade III Freestyle. Together they scored a massive 84.347% to take the title ahead of Natasha Baker (GBR), who scored 77.614% on Keystone Daw Chorus. Anne Katrin Lubbe (NOR) took the bronze on La Costa Majlund with 76.477%.
A clearly delighted Tobias said after his ride: “I feel great. I left my head out here this time because I wanted to show I can do this. I just rode to the edge of being too much and I was probably closer to some mistakes today than I was yesterday, but I took the chance.
“I always had the dream of double gold but I knew it would be hard. I would be happy if it was a silver or bronze, just to get two medals at my first Paralympics, but two golds is amazing.”
At the end of five days of stunning Para Dressage competition, the horses and athletes of Tokyo 2020 will now start their journeys home. They will remember a record-breaking week of drama and fierce competition which saw new champions crowned and titles re-won or defended.
Great Britain top the Para Dressage table, with three golds, three silvers and two bronzes, ahead of The Netherlands’ two golds, two silvers and two bronzes. Belgium take the third spot with two golds and two bronzes, followed by the USA in fourth position with two golds and a bronze.
The world’s best Para Dressage athletes will gather again in August 2022 at the FEI World Championships in Herning (DEN). Until then, the memories of this competition in Tokyo will be slow to fade. It’s been a dazzling, brilliant Paralympic Games.
©FEI/Liz Gregg
The FEI joins the entire sporting world in mourning the passing of Count Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee from 2001-2013. The Belgian, who was 79, was made IOC Honorary President when he stepped down after serving a full 12-year term.
Born in Ghent, Belgium, on 2 May 1942, Jacques Jean Marie Rogge took the medical path in his education, earning a degree in sports medicine and becoming a respected orthopaedic surgeon. But it was the sport’s world that became his metier, both as an athlete and a sports administrator at the very highest level.
An avid sailor, he was crowned world champion in the Cadet Dinghy before moving into the Finn class, which earned him three Olympic appearances at the Mexico 1968, Munich 1972 and Montreal 1976 Games. He played rugby for Belgium and was Belgian national champion no fewer than 16 times.
He then moved into sports administration, becoming President of the Belgian National Olympic Committee (NOC) in 1989, the same year that he was made President of the European Olympic Committees, a post he held until 2001. In 2013 he was made Honorary President of the Belgian NOC, having acted as Chef de Mission for the Belgian team at several editions of the Olympic Games. He also did a four-year term as United Nations Special Envoy for Youth Refugees and Sport (2014-2018).
Jacques Rogge became an IOC Member in 1991 and was made a Member of the IOC Executive Board in 1998 prior to his election as President three years later. As part of his publically declared war on doping, he became the IOC Representative on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Foundation Board (1999-2001) and was President of the Coordination Commissions for both Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004.
Wanting to instil the Olympic sporting ideals of excellence, friendship and respect into an increasingly youthful athlete base, he was instrumental in the creation of the Youth Olympic Games. Aimed at generating a pathway to the bigger Olympic stage by offering younger athletes aged 14-18 the opportunity to gain Olympic experience and hone their craft without the pressure of the full Games, the YOG was an instant success from the moment the inaugural Games were staged in Singapore 2010.
“Jacques Rogge was a truly inspirational leader, a genius who immeasurably improved the Olympic Movement with his visionary work during a 12-year tenure at the helm of the IOC”, FEI President, IOC Member and fellow Belgian Ingmar De Vos said.
“He vigorously championed integrity in sport, fighting against doping and competition manipulation in all their various forms, yet despite his brilliance, he remained humble throughout.
“I was honoured to be able to work with him when our paths crossed at the Belgian Olympic Committee, and follow in his footsteps as a WADA Executive Board Member. He became a valued mentor to me and I felt privileged to count him as a dear friend. He was an immense presence and his passing will be felt not just in his homeland of Belgium, but across the entire global sporting community. He will be sorely missed.”
Jacques Rogge also had a great connection with former FEI President HRH Princess Haya Al Hussein, who remembers him with great affection. “President Rogge was a true statesman recognised beyond the borders of sport”, she said. “He steered the Olympic Movement with a moral compass centred on values of honesty and kindness. His energy and commitment changed international sport and the world for the better.
“President Rogge brought the IOC to the UN. He worked tirelessly to protect and improve the standing of women in sport, introduced the Youth Olympic Games, and helped shape programmes for athletes retiring from the world stage. He rescued the Olympic Games after the scandals of Salt Lake City and had an unbending approach to integrity, leaving the movement in strong financial health.
“President Rogge was a passionate advocate for sports development and a great help to me personally in establishing FEI Solidarity. I will be forever grateful for the unwavering support and inspirational guidance he gave me over eight years as FEI President. I am eternally in his debt, and my life is better for having known him. May he rest in peace.”
Jacques Rogge was married to Anne, and is survived by a son, a daughter and two grandchildren. As a mark of respect, the Olympic flag will be flown at half-mast for five days at Olympic House and at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne (SUI). The funeral will be a private family ceremony, but a public memorial service will take place later in the year.
The FEI offers its most sincere condolences to the family of Jacques Rogge, his wide circle of friends in Belgium and further afield and to all members of the Olympic Movement. Together we mourn the untimely passing of one of the sports world’s true gentlemen.
Vaulting legends reigned supreme in Budapest (HUN) as FEI Vaulting made a successful return to the world stage, with Lambert Leclezio defending his World title for France, Jasmin Lindner (AUT) reclaiming the female individual gold medal and Germany proving dominant in the Pas de Deux, Squad and Nations Team categories.
After its triumphant debut at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ in 2018, The Nations Team event once again returned to great acclaim, delivering the first medals of the FEI Vaulting World Championships 2021. The competition which sees two individuals and one team from each nation line up in the quest for national glory, once again provided a stage for history to be made.
Team Germany consisting of Jannik Heiland (9.048), Janika Derks (8.884) and Team Germany (9.157), was in a league of its own, posting an incredible average of 9.030 to retain the Nation’s Team World title. The silver medal was awarded to Eva Nagiller (8.938), Jasmin Lindner (9.061) and Team Austria (8.207), whilst history was made with the bronze medal going to Denmark, marking their new-found eminence on the world stage after impressive performances from Sheena Bendixen (8.988), Anna Damm (7.751) and Team Denmark (8.264).
In the female category, golden girl Jasmin Lindner reclaimed the World title she won at the FEI World Championships in Le Mans in 2016. The multi-talented, highly decorated vaulter, added to her already impressive collection of Individual and Pas De Deux World gold medals after again showing her formidable talent and unmatched expression within the sport.
Renowned for her story-telling ability, Lindner, the only female vaulter to post a freestyle score over 9.0, dominated both freestyle rounds. Partnering with her long-term team of lunger Klaus Haidacher and Dr Doolittle 5, Lindner’s Greta Thunberg inspired freestyle helped secure her unprecedented fifth Vaulting World title (3 Pas De Deux, 2 Individual) further contributing to her legacy within the sport (8.759).
Silver individual medallist from the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™, Janika Derks (GER) once again took the second step on the podium with Dark Beluga and Barbara Rosiny. Whilst Lindner’s fellow compatriot and training partner Eva Nagiller (8.578) took bronze after posting the highest technical test score of the female competition. Denmark’s Sheena Bendixen (8.461) and France’s Manon Moutinho (8.427) finished fourth and fifth respectively.
The male category lit up the arena in Budapest with France’s Lambert Leclezio retaining the World title he won so emphatically at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™, once again pushing the boundaries of the sport and rising to the top of the highly competitive class.
Leclezio got his quest to retain his World title off to the best possible start, leading after the compulsory round on 8.849 – a score rarely seen within the sport and evidence of his outstanding technical ability. His nearest competitor, Jannik Heiland from Germany, finished round one on 8.584, with the chasing pack narrowly behind.
This exceptional standard was further evident in the first freestyle round where Leclezio, Heiland and rising star France’s Quentin Jabet all posted scores in excess of 9.0. The skill, flexibility, expression and harmony of those chasing the medals thrilling to watch.
Saturday’s technical test round saw Leclezio perform a breath-taking masterclass. The flawless, technical elements coupled with his intricate, clever composition saw him post a previously unheard of technical test score of 9.083, creating breathing space between him and his nearest competitors Heiland and France’s Theo Gardies. A fall for Quentin Jabet in the technical round saw him fall away from medal contention.
In their first championship together, Leclezio, lunger, Loic Devedu and Estado IFCE performed a jaw-dropping final freestyle to retain Lambert’s World title, and further cement his legacy within the sport (8,989). Germany’s Jannik Heiland, with Barbara Rosiny on the lunge and horse Dark Beluga also retained the world silver medal from the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™.
Further evidence of France’s dominance within the male category, Theo Gardies took bronze converting his previous junior success into senior acclaim (8.659), with Quentin Jabet posting the highest final freestyle score of 9.126 to finish fourth and again prove that he is one to watch for the future.
In the squad competition Germany led through all three rounds of the competition, dominating the event. Together with lunger Gesa Buhrig and Claus 51, the team from Fredenbeck upheld Germany’s rich history within the Squad competition to take gold. Their perfect final freestyle saw them awarded 9.224 to finish on an astonishing total of 8.735, scoring 0.7 more than second place Team Austria. A masterclass in teamwork, coupled with incredible artistry and strength, saw the gold medal never in doubt. A commanding win for the power-house vaulting nation.
Representing Austria, URC Wildegg, together with Cornelia Trimmel and Leokado added to their already impressive tally of World and European medals taking second place (8.044). The United States of America finished in bronze medal position, the first time they have won a medal at the senior World Championships in squad since the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games™, marking their ascent back to prominence on the world stage (7.914). Denmark rounded off a history making Championship to finish fourth (7.856).
The ever-entertaining Pas De Deux class lived up to its highly entertaining billing, once again providing edge of the seat action. Vaulting legends from the 2014 gold medal winning team, Team Neuss, Johannes Kay and Janika Derks (GER) converted the silver medal they won at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™ into gold in untouchable fashion. A fall by their fellow countrymen and nearest competitors 2019 FEI European Gold medallists Chiara Congia and Justin Van Gerven in the first round saw them enter round 2 with an impressive 0.7 advantage. Together with Humphrey Bogart and lunger Nina Vorberg they proved unbeatable, finishing on an impressive total of 8.936 and taking the top step on the podium.
Chiara Congia and Justin Van Gerven came back from their round one mistake in spectacular fashion to post the highest second round freestyle of 9.092 thus securing the silver medal (8.646). The bronze medal went to USA’s Daniel Janes and Haley Smith, securing their first ever FEI medal as a pairing after bravely changing their freestyle between round 1 and round 2 (8.469).
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