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Ecuador’s Jaime Morillo, an FEI Level 3 Course Designer and Technical Delegate, has been appointed jointly by the FEI and the Pan American Equestrian Confederation (PAEC) as PAEC Sport Development Officer, a role wholly funded by FEI Solidarity. Morillo, who represented Ecuador at the Pan American Games in Puerto Rico 1979, will start in the newly created position on 1 August.
“We are delighted to announce the appointment of Jaime Morillo to this important new role”, PAEC President Cesar Hirsch said. “We undertook a lengthy and very thorough recruitment process and, together with the FEI, we have no doubt that we have found the perfect candidate for the job. Jaime Morillo is a well-known and highly respected figure in the PAEC region through his work within the FEI Solidarity coaching system and Equestrian Sports Educative Events. He is tailor-made for this new position within PAEC and we look forward to welcoming him to our team. We owe a huge debt of thanks to the FEI President Ingmar De Vos and to FEI Solidarity for offering us the funding for this new role that will be central to the continued growth of our sport in the region. Without their support it would simply not have been possible.”
“With the appointment of the highly experienced Jaime Morillo, the equestrian community across the Americas and Caribbean is set for a major boost,” FEI President and Chair of the FEI Solidarity Committee Ingmar De Vos said.
“The Pan American Equestrian Confederation represents a great many athletes, coaches and wider members of the equestrian community from 31 National Federations across the region.
“We are delighted that through FEI Solidarity - which promotes and develops equestrian culture and sport worldwide in a sustainable and structured way - we are able to grow equestrian sport and nurture talent from grassroots to the world stage.”
“I am very happy and proud, but also humble, to join PAEC and to take on this new role for the further development of equestrian sport in the Americas”, Jaime Morillo said. “I believe that my extensive knowledge of the sport in the region will mean that I can make a real difference and I look forward to working with our National Federations to help advance the sport here. It’s a big challenge but one that I can’t wait to get started on. I am going to just put my head down and work as efficiently and intelligently as possible to make this position really deliver.”
In his new role, Morillo will work closely with the FEI Solidarity Department, assisting the 31 National Federations of the Americas to develop their sports structures and systems in the framework of the FEI Solidarity Programme, and facilitating effective knowledge sharing and transfer within the PAEC region. He will work out of his home office in Wellington, Florida (USA), but will also make personal visits to the National Federations, consolidating geographical areas to maximise the efficiency of each trip.
Jaime Morillo was born in Hollywood, California (USA) to Ecuadorian parents, who moved the family back to Ecuador four years later. His passion for horses and equestrian sports developed at an early age and he spent a summer as a junior with Italian Jumping legend Graziano Mancinelli, individual gold medallist at the Munich 1972 Olympic Games. He studied economics and engineering project management at the University of Richmond in Virginia (USA) and, outside college, honed his competition skills with Frances Rowe. He was also coached by Los Angeles 1984 double gold medallist Joe Fargis and team gold and individual silver medallist Conrad Homfeld, who were based with Rowe. During that time, Morillo represented Ecuador in Show Jumping at the Pan American Games in Puerto Rico 1979, finishing 13th with Coppertone in a star-studded field topped by the great American combination of Michael Matz and Jet Run.
Morillo returned to Ecuador in 1980, working for 30 years in engineering and construction with a focus on finance and project management until switching careers when he got his Jumping course designer licence. He also started coaching professionally, graduating through the FEI Levels, and is now a Level 3 Course Designer and Technical Delegate, and a Level 3 coach in the FEI coaching system. He credits four individuals as being influential in nurturing his coaching skills – Ireland’s Liam Moggan and Gerry Mullins, the former FEI Solidarity Director Jacqueline Braissant (SUI) and her successor, Jean-Philippe Camboulives (FRA).
Morillo is fluent in Spanish and English, and also coaches through Portuguese. He holds dual nationality, but his competitive career and his work with the FEI have always been through the Ecuadorian National Federation. He has been based in Florida (USA) for the past seven years.
The recruitment process for the PAEC Sport Development Officer role, which started in January of this year with circulation of the job description to all FEI National Federations, generated 21 applicants of 13 nationalities. Candidates for the post came from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay.
Photo caption: Ecuador’s Jaime Morillo (left) with PAEC President César Hirsch after signing the contract for his new role as PAEC Sport Development Officer
The Dressage horses came before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Ground Jury yesterday morning in the sunshine at the majestic Versailles (FRA) venue.
Under the watchful eye of Ground Jury President Raphaël Saleh and team, a total of 75 horses, including alternates, from 30 countries stepped out at the first Dressage Horse Inspection.
Returning for re-inspection on Tuesday morning (30 July) at 8.00am local time will be Love Me (Zaneta Skowronska-Kozubik - POL), Amplemento (Christian Schumach - AUT) and Malagueno LXXXIII (Jose Daniel Martin Dockx - ESP).
A total of 15 teams and 15 individual competitors are set to compete in Olympic Dressage.
Dressage has the distinction of fielding the oldest athlete, not just in equestrian sport, but at the entire Paris 2024 Olympic Games - 65-year-old Spanish star and Athens 2004 silver medallist Juan Antonio Jiménez Cobo is ready to wow Versailles fans with 15-year-old grey stallion Euclides Mor.
Draw
The draw for the team medal-deciding Grand Prix, running over two days (Tuesday 30 July - Wednesday 31 July) with 30 combinations each day, is now live.
First into the arena at 11.00am local time on 30 July will be Austrian team member Stefan Lehfellner with Roberto Carlos Mt, followed by Denmark’s World Championship team gold medallist Nanna Skodborg Merrald with Zepter.
Great Britain’s Charlotte Fry, reigning individual World Champion, will lead the way with Glamourdale on day two (31 July), when the team action begins an hour earlier, at 10.00am.
Each day, athletes will compete in three groups of 10, with Tokyo 2020 double gold-medallists Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and brilliant mare Dalera last to go in Wednesday’s final group.
Great Britain continues to hold the lead in the Eventing team competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after a thrilling day of Cross-Country action in the magnificent parkland of Château De Versailles today.
Team Germany - second after yesterday’s opening Dressage phase - today saw a bump off the saddle for Christoph Wahler (Carjatan S) resulting in elimination - putting them 14th of 16 competing nations, as the action resumes with tomorrow’s medal-deciding Jumping phase.
To the delight of the thousands of French fans who turned out to enjoy wonderful sport in the most spectacular of venues today, it is the hosts - Team France - that sit in the silver medal spot. Japan - following three brilliant rounds - have moved up from overnight fifth into bronze medal position, followed by Switzerland, Belgium and New Zealand in the next three placings.
The running score of 82.50 for Britain leaves them just 4.7 penalty points ahead of the French, while Japan are 6.6 points further behind.
Meanwhile a masterclass of Cross-Country riding saw Germany’s final team member, Michael Jung (Chipmunk FRH), overtake Laura Collett (London 52) at the top of the individual leaderboard when the British rider picked up time penalties. Adding nothing to his Dressage score, Australia’s Christopher Burton (Shadow Man) held on to bronze medal spot, so it’s even closer in the battle for individual medals.
Jung leads on his score of 17.80 and Collett, who yesterday posted an even higher record-breaking Olympic Eventing Dressage score of 17.50, goes into tomorrow’s final phase on a mark of 18.30, while Burton - on 22.00 - can’t afford any mistakes because fourth-placed Felix Vogg from Switzerland (Dao De L’ocean) is breathing down his neck on a running tally of 22.10.
It’s going to be a nail-biting conclusion when Jumping gets underway at 10.30am local time.
First out
First out on the track today, defending individual Olympic champion Julia Krajewski from Germany, showed just how to tackle it when coming home with Nickel 21 adding only time faults to her scoreline. “I was maybe a bit careful in the beginning - the ground changes a lot and you lose time here and there, but the most important is that he should be happy and fit for the last three minutes, so I didn’t want to push him too much in the beginning.
“He did everything absolutely perfectly and in the last water I didn’t take the safer option and - he did it like a pro, so that makes me very proud of him! He’s so rideable and honest!”
Wahler was next to go for Germany, but his unplanned dismount suddenly dropped his team out of contention - but that didn’t mean that Jung, going late in the order, and with all the confidence in the world, wouldn’t give it his best shot. He has twice won the individual Olympic title and he’s more than keen to make that happen again. Coming home with Chipmunk FRH in 8 minutes 55 seconds - well inside the time-allowed of 9 minutes 2 seconds - they strutted into the individual lead.
“Today was a lot of moments to enjoy. Chipmunk made it very easy for me. Every jump was easy - he was so well listening and connected to me, and so powerful galloping”, Jung said. He felt his horse was cruising so easily that they were under absolutely no pressure. “I checked the time, and said ‘OK we have more time at the next fence so slow down, slow down!’ It was an unbelievable feeling. I’m so thankful to have such good horses, and to be at my fourth Olympic Games is a dream. It’s always a special feeling (at Olympic Games), even if it’s the first time here”, he said.
Asked if he is concerned about tomorrow’s final Jumping test he replied, “normally he show-jumps very well and he wasn’t a bit tired at the end today. In fact he felt so good he wanted to do it all over again! It was so enjoyable and I’m looking forward to tomorrow. He’s in top shape at the moment”.
Amazing Versailles fans
Like so many of the other athletes, Jung was enthralled by the enthusiasm of the crowds who packed the Cross-Country sidelines all the way around the track.
“They were unbelievable! So many people are here watching the course, it’s fantastic! And Chipmunk didn’t mind - I think he had so much fun galloping around the park!”
Impressed
Collett described her tour of the track as “Such a buzz!” She decided not to jump the ditch following the drop at fence 16, which proved the undoing of Germany’s Wahler, instead taking the left-hand option.
“Up until this morning I was planning to jump the right-hand corner, but I watched a few and it looked like the striding to the left corner was a bit easier and more obvious for the horses so I changed my mind. I felt the ditch was a bit of a nothing ditch and there were too many unknown circumstances there about how he would read it and jump it. And with only three strides to the double brush I felt that was an unnecessary risk - some of the first ones that went didn’t make a mistake, but they didn’t understand the question”, she explained.
While Jung is super-confident about his horse in tomorrow’s deciding Jumping phase, Collett is more reserved about her prospects with London 52. The atmospheric stadium at Versailles will certainly play its part on the final day in this discipline. “He was very spooky in Tokyo with the crowd, so I’m just hoping he will turn up tomorrow like he has the last few days!”, she said.
It certainly won’t faze Burton who turned away from his lifetime involvement in Eventing for a few years to specialise in Jumping instead, but who was lured back to his original passion when offered the ride on Shadow Man this spring. However, even though the Australian has a world of experience behind him, he’s not taking anything for granted when it comes to tomorrow’s final test.
“I’m trying not to think about that at the moment, I don’t want to get too nervous ahead of tomorrow, so I’ll just make sure the horse is OK and happy this evening, and give him a jump in the morning and see how he feels and hopefully I can do my best!”, he said.
Into contention
Felix Vogg secured the Swiss team’s improvement from seventh to fourth place with his brilliant run with Dao De L’ocean that also left him fourth individually. He came prepared for all the excitement but found himself overwhelmed by how well the relatively inexperienced 11-year-old gelding coped with it all.
“I began with my plan over the first part of the course but I didn’t get a good ride over the first few fences, so I left the horse to do it himself - and he was fantastic! I knew the crowd would be huge here so I went to Wiesbaden (GER, CCI4* S, which he won) to train this because there the crowd is even closer than here, and I did it to train him especially for the Olympics”, he explained. That certainly paid off today.
And the brilliant Japanese trio of Ryuzo Kitajima (Cekatinka), Yoshiaki Oiwa (MGH Grafton Street) and Kazuma Tomoto (Vinci de la Vigne) were so rock solid when slotting into bronze medal spot. They all have their own British trainers, Oiwa guided by Pippa Funnell, Tomoto trained by William Fox-Pitt and Kitajima working closely with Angela Tucker. They quietly cruised into a medal position when both Tomoto and Oiwa added nothing to their scores.
Credited
Oiwa credited Funnell for the performance that sees them in individual fifth place this evening, loving the Cross-Country experience today. “It was so beautiful - all the way around people cheering for us, the atmosphere was amazing, and this is just an amazing horse. I’ve only been riding him for the last three months but he knows everything! From the beginning I was trying to get the time. Pippa gave me a lot of advice and all the instructions, so it has made it possible for me to do this!”, he said.
Meanwhile, the French have every reason to be very happy with their day today as well. The wall of sound when each one of them set out across the course was extraordinary, the spectators urging them on with every stride. And when Nicolas Touzaint, second-last to go, set sail with Diabolo Menthe there was a Mexican wave of wild cheering that followed him with every stride.
“It was so amazing, I always expected they would make a lot of noise, but I couldn’t believe how fantastic they were all the way around the course!” However the French are not getting too carried away with it all. As Touzaint said this afternoon “it’s not over until it’s over. Tonight we take care of our horses and spend some quiet time together as a team, because tomorrow there is still a lot more work to be done…..”
Great Britain got off to a flying start topping both the team and individual leaderboards today, after the thrilling opening Dressage phase of Eventing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Versailles (FRA) during which multiple records were smashed.
Both individual leader Britain’s Laura Collett (London 52) and second-placed Michael Jung from Germany (Chipmunk FRH) broke the Olympic Eventing record Dressage score of 19.3 set by America’s David O’Connor and Custom Made at the Sydney 2000 Games. Collett threw down a superb mark of 17.50 when 33rd to go of the 64 starters. And then German ace Jung almost matched that when posting 17.80 a couple of hours later.
Lying equal-third in the individual rankings overnight are China’s Alex Hua Tian (Jilsonne van Bareelhof) and Australia’s Christopher Burton (Shadow Man) who each put a score of 22.0 on the board, while Switzerland’s Felix Vogg (Dao de L’Ocean) is fractionally behind in fifth spot on 22.10 and in sixth is Britain’s Ros Canter (Lordships Graffalo) on 23.40.
Super-tight situation
It’s a super-tight situation in the individual standings too with just 8.2 penalty points separating the top 10 individuals and just 11.6 separating the top 20 going into tomorrow’s Cross-Country phase, which is expected to be hugely influential.
And the British team total of 66.70 after Dressage is another Olympic Eventing record, overtaking the previous best of 68.6 posted by Australia at the Beijing Games in 2008.
Defending the team gold they won in Tokyo three years ago, the British tonight have a 7.4 penalty point lead over Germany in second on 74.10, while on 81.20 the Olympic hosts Team France are just ahead of fourth-placed New Zealand on 83.00.
Tom McEwen’s early leading score of 25.80 with JL Dublin put the British on the right path this morning. “Dubs (JL Dublin) was awesome - he loves an atmosphere!”, said the man who helped Team GBR win their first Eventing team gold since 1972 at Tokyo with with Toledo de Kerser, and then went on to win individual silver.
“He really lit up a little bit more than I was expecting in the first trot and then he was actually super relaxed in the walk, which then caught me out for the first change….but then after that, he put it right back up where we left off, hopefully putting Great Britain in a strong starting position, which is our main goal. And now my aim is to support the girls and to finish on that score”, he said.
Sensational performance
Next up was Collett who produced a sensational performance from London 52 that would prove impossible to beat. They were also in that victorious Tokyo side and, at 15 years old, the brilliant gelding is like a fine wine, continuing to improve with age.
“I loved every second of it!”, Collett said. “That horse is unbelievable - what he has done throughout my whole career. He’s amazing and he just keeps on delivering, so I’m just very, very grateful to him!”
She watched McEwen go. “He really went for it and smashed it out of the park and that gave me the motivation not to leave anything behind, to be brave and give it our best shot, and luckily I have a very willing partner”, she said.
The motivation is certainly there for all of the British contingent. “Myself and Tom were lucky enough to be on the podium (in Tokyo) with a gold medal around our necks, so we want to do it again. We’ve come here with a lot of pressure and expectations, but pressure is a privilege!”, she pointed out. Her equine partner didn’t make it a walk-in-the-park however.
“It’s been quite testing, because two days ago he was really wild in that arena and naughty, and feral, and I just had to trust that I didn’t want him to be perfect two days ago. He was very good yesterday and it would have been easy to push him in the last ten minutes today, but I saved it for the arena”, she explained. And it certainly paid off.
Wrapping it up for the British side, reigning European double-gold medallists Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo secured fifth place individually with a score of 23.40 to solidify her country’s position at the top of the team order.
Process-driven
Talking about her result she said, “I very much tried to stay process-driven today. I’m over the moon with him. We all forget that Walter (Lordships Graffalo’s stable-name) is only 12 years old, yes he won Badminton and the Europeans, but he is still a green horse. I feel like we are still only scratching the surface, particularly in a test like that, which is significantly harder than the tests we normally see”.
Her assessment for tomorrow’s Cross-Country test is “plenty to jump, plenty of places where you just have to be on your game the whole way around. The time is going to be a big factor of course and that’s where mistakes creep in. I’ve got a plan, I’m open to that plan changing - but I’m going to stay in my bubble, I’ve got a fantastic team around me and hopefully we can get the job done tomorrow”.
The British will certainly all need to keep sharp if they are to stay ahead of Team Germany who are hot on their heels. Second-placed Michael Jung, a man with an incredible record behind him, said he really likes the Cross-Country track. “Every fence is very nicely built and the gallop track is so nice. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow and the rain has been good for the ground. My feeling is that the Cross-Country will be amazing tomorrow”. It’s been a wet day at Versailles today.
Where riding tactics are concerned, he confirmed the opinion of many others - “we need to stay concentrated and to do everything 100% perfect”.
First to go
Jung’s team-mate and defending individual champion Julia Krajewski, who was first into the magnificent Versailles arena today and who will be first to go again in tomorrow’s Cross-Country test, described the course as “impressive as always, beautifully presented, everything being asked, you can’t underestimate it, the course builder has been very clever. If you ride forward and have an honest horse you will probably do well….I think it’s very clear and very fair”.
Third-placed Hua Tian joked that his “arrogant” 15-year-old Jilsonne van Bareelhof, who is better known to his friends as Chockx, had a great day today. “I think for him, he was always going to trot in there and go ‘Oh! I’ve found a venue of similar majesty to myself!’ Or it was going to go the other way and he was going to go over the top about it!” said the three-time Olympian.
“He is the most talented horse I’ve ever sat on in my life”, he continued. “He just goes extra. Last year, he was my first choice for the Asian Games but picked up a little injury the month beforehand. That would be his story. But for me this (Olympic Games) was always his goal and his target. We saved him for many years to come here, and tomorrow we unleash the beast and see what happens!”
It’s all going to kick off again at 10.30am local time as Krajewski leads the way over the track that measures 5,149 metres with a time allowed of 9.02 minutes and 28 obstacles and 41 efforts to be tackled along the way.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Eventing medals are very much hanging in the balance with plenty of changes expected at the end of what is set to be another really thrilling day.
Olympic Dressage has long been dominated by Germany. Because since the first edition of the team event in Amsterdam in 1928 only four countries - France, Sweden, what was then the Soviet Union and Great Britain - have ever succeeded in doing so. And with a phenomenal 14 team golds from 21 team contests they arrive at the Paris 2024 Games with a pep in their step once again.
That extra energy is due in no small part to the emergence of a really exciting new partnership between the most decorated athlete in the history of equestrian sport and an exciting new horse.
At CDIO Aachen 5* a few short weeks ago Werth created a sensation with her performances from the 10-year-old mare Wendy which she only started riding six months ago, posting a hat-trick of victories in the Grand Prix, Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle. Scoring 89.95 in the latter she threw down a marker clearly indicating her intentions, and the pair’s selection has given the German team a whole new dimension.
If Wendy takes to the stadium in Versailles with the same level of confidence as she did in Aachen then it’s definitely a game-changer, because when you add that talent to the most consistently successful partnership of recent times in Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and Dalera and further solid back-up from Frederic Wandres and Bluetooth OLD then the defending champions looks truly formidable.
Reigning
The British of course have the reigning individual World Champions in their toolkit.
Charlotte Fry, popularly called Lottie, and her black stallion Glamourdale who clinched world championship double-gold in 2022 before going on to take team gold and Freestyle silver at last year’s Europeans were noticeably absent from the competition arena for much of this year. However they did come out to produce a double of wins at the CDI 3* at Aachen, Germany in May and then another two top spots at the 4* at the same venue two weeks ago which suggests they remain a fiercely competitive force to be reckoned with.
Becky Moody and her 10-year-old home-bred gelding Jagerbomb were British reserves at the 2023 European Championship, and the pair’s third-place finishes in both the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle at the World Cup leg in London (GBR) last December placed them even further under the spotlight. Runner-up spot in the Grand Prix Special at CDIO5*-NC Compiègne (FRA) in May and third place in the Grand Prix Special at CDIO5*-NC Rotterdam (NED) in June confirmed the form of the big horse and his popular and talented rider who is also a successful coach and horse-producer working from her base in the Yorkshire countryside in England.
Moody regularly travels more than four hours to train with her team-mate Carl Hester whose presence in these Games is enormous. Not only because he, like the inimitable Werth, is something of an institution in the sport but also because of his massive influence as the trainer of so many other successful athletes and their horses. He has always been a great team player, helping his country to that historic first-ever Olympic team gold on home soil in London in 2012 and to silver at the Rio 2016 Games and then bronze in Tokyo three years ago.
Together these three Britons are sure to make waves when the Paris action gets underway.
Veteran
It was Team USA that slotted into silver medal position in Tokyo and two members of that side are lining out once again in Paris.
Steffen Peters is a veteran of five Olympic Games beginning with Atlanta in 1996 where the US team took bronze and he brings his Tokyo ride, the 16-year-old Suppenkasper who finished fifth in the Grand Prix and fourth in the Grand Prix Freestyle at last year’s FEI Dressage World Cup Final in Omaha (USA). Just a few short weeks ago they finished third in the CDI4* Grand Prix Freestyle in Aachen (GER) to cement their selection.
Adrienne Lyle, competing at her third Games, brings the 12-year-old gelding Helix who scored numerous victories in Florida (USA) this year before coming to Europe and posting two fifth-placings at Hagen (GER) CDI3* and two runner-up placings CDI4* Kronberg (GER) in June.
Completing the American team is Marcus Orlob who only took over the reins on the 10-year-old mare Jane earlier this year. The pair competed in their first international competition together in March and it’s been a meteoric rise to a place in the US side backed up by good results in Europe too, also at Hagen and Kronberg.
The reigning world champions and European bronze medallists from Denmark are amongst the 15 countries vying for a place on that Olympic team podium, while in the battle for the individual title the reigning gold and silver medallists are back for more.
And they are both Germans
Jessica von Bredow-Werndl is determined to make it happen when she comes out to defend her individual title with Dalera but Werth, who had to settle for silver in Tokyo, has something of a secret weapon in her new ride Wendy. And there are plenty of others whose stars are just waiting to shine.
What is Dressage?
Dressage is about training the horse to a high level, highlighting its athleticism and the beauty of its movement and the harmony between horse and rider.
How it will play out…..
The FEI Grand Prix test, in which all athletes must participate, will take place on 30 and 31 July and is a qualifier for both the team (Grand Prix Special) and individual competition (Grand Prix Freestyle). The qualification ranking for the team competition will be decided by the combined results of all three team members in the Grand Prix.
Athletes compete in six groups, with three groups competing on each day. The composition of the groups is based on the FEI World Ranking list position of the horse on the date of definite entries.
The top 10 teams in the Grand Prix (including any team tied for 10th place) will qualify for the FEI Grand Prix Special on 3 August which is the team medal-decider.
The FEI Grand Prix test is also the individual qualifier from which the top 18 will go through to the Grand Prix Freestyle Individual Final on Sunday 4 August.
The FEI Grand Prix Freestyle test is the Individual Final Competition open to 18 combinations qualified from the FEI Grand Prix. The qualified athletes will be the top two combinations from each of the six groups and the combinations with the six next highest scores.
The Dressage Tests are the FEI Grand Prix, the FEI Grand Prix Special and the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle.
Some Facts & Figures
30 countries.
15 teams.
15 countries represented by individual competitors.
60 horse/athlete combinations.
Youngest athlete - 24-year-old Canadian team member Camille Carier Bergeron riding Finnlanderin
Oldest athlete - 65-year-old Juan Antonio Jiminez Cobo from Spain riding Euclides Mor.
Of the 60 athletes competing in Dressage in Paris, 35 (56.65%) are female and 25 (43.35%) are male.
Both British team member Carl Hester, and German team star Isabell Werth will be competing at their seventh Olympic Games.
Both became first-time Olympians in Barcelona in 1992.
Germany are defending team champions and are chasing down their 15th team title.
In the history of Olympic Dressage, Germany has long been the dominant force taking 14 team and 8 individual titles.
Defending individual champion is Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl riding TSF Dalera BB. Von Bredow-Werndl set a new Olympic record with a score of 84.666 in the Grand Prix Special at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
The most medalled athlete in the history of equestrian sport, 55-year-old Isabell Werth from Germany has 12 Olympic medals in her trophy cabinet including six team gold, one individual gold and five individual silver. She claimed her first team gold and individual silver in Barcelona in 1992 and the last at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
The Officials
Ground Jury President: Raphaël Saleh (FRA)
Ground Jury Members:
Judges Supervisory Panel Members:
Countries fielding Teams: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and USA.
Countries fielding Individuals: Brazil, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, India, Ireland, Korea, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Morocco, Moldova, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Switzerland and Venezuela.
Full List of Nations: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Ireland, Korea, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Morocco, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, USA and Venezuela.
Timetable here
Complete List of Athletes/Horses here
Check the Paris 2024 Press Kit here
The world’s best Eventing horses and riders will be first out of the starting blocks when the equestrian action gets underway at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Versailles (FRA) tomorrow morning with the opening dressage test.
A total of 81 horses, including alternates, came before Ground Jury President Christina Klingspor (SWE) and Ground Jury Members Xavier Le Sauce (FRA) and Robert Stevenson (USA) at this morning’s first Horse Inspection which began with some gentle rain in the air.
A total of four horses were held over for re-inspection before being passed fit to compete. They were Cash in Hand (Noor Slaoui – MAR), Toubleu de Rueire (Melody Johner- SUI), Golden Midnight (Malin Asai – SWE) and Banzai du Loir (Yasmin Ingham – GBR).
One additional horse, DSP Fighting Line (Lea Siegl) AUT, was reinspected and did not pass.
Late change
There has been a late change to Team USA’s line-up following the withdrawal of Will Coleman’s Diabolo. Elisabeth Halliday and Nutcracker have moved up from the alternate position to join Boyd Martin (Fedarman B) and Caroline Pamukcu (HSH Blake) in the US side, while Sydney Elliott and Diamantaire have been promoted to the alternate reserve position.
The horses are enjoying the fabulous facilities at the venue in Versailles and were brimming with energy and excitement as they strutted their stuff before the panel today.
One particularly enthusiastic chap was the lovely bright chestnut gelding Altier d’Aurois who nearly overshot the runway because he was so busy showing himself off in front of the officials and media. His rider, Ecuador’s Nicolas Wettstein, could only smile.
Draw
The draw has been made, and the order-of-go for teams is as follows: 1, Germany; 2, Australia; 3, Canada; 4, Ireland; 5, Switzerland; 6, USA; 7, Poland; 8, Sweden; 9, Great Britain; 10, Brazil; 11, New Zealand; 12, Japan; 13, Italy; 14, Netherlands; 15, France; 16, Belgium.
German team member and defending individual Olympic champion Julia Krajewski will lead the way with Nickel 21 at 09.30 local time followed by Australia’s Shane Rose and Virgil, while Canada’s Michael Winter and El Mundo will go third and Ireland’s Sarah Ennis and Action Lady M will be fourth into the arena.
All combinations will do their dressage tests tomorrow and there will be a break after the 30th pair into the ring - USA’s Elisabeth Halliday and Nutcracker who will take their turn at 12.54. The action will resume at 14.15 with Poland’s Jan Kaminski and Jard and will be completed when Belgium’s Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and Origi finish their test at approximately 18.22.
The dressage test is 2024 Olympic Games 5* test (short).
Great Britain is defending the team title and Germany’s Krajewski - who in Tokyo became the first-ever woman to win individual gold in Eventing with the great mare Amande De B’neville - will also be chasing a back-to-back double when setting the stage for all the rest as pathfinder with her 10-year-old gelding Nickel 21 who has shown some excellent recent form.
The defending champions from Great Britain are bidding to become the first-ever five-time Eventing team champions when the equestrian events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games spring into action in two days’ time.
The British victory in Tokyo three years ago was the crest of a wave that carried them on to complete domination at the European Championship 2021 in Avenches (SUI) a few months later where they collected team gold and the entire set of individual medals. And although things didn’t go as planned at the World Championship in Pratoni (ITA) in 2022 where the team had to settle for fourth place, 25-year-old Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir claimed the individual title.
They were back in formidable form when taking team gold and individual gold and silver at last summer’s European Championship in France. And, completely spoiled for choice due to the calibre of their pool of contenders, they arrive in Paris with world number one Rosalind Canter riding Lordships Graffalo, Laura Collett with London 52, Tom McEwen partnering JL Dublin and Ingham and Banzai du Loir as reserves.
It’s a sparkling selection. Canter’s 12-year-old gelding claimed the coveted Badminton trophy in May 2023 before taking individual European gold three months later, Collett and her now 15-year-old gelding were on the gold medal winning team in Tokyo in 2021, posted a record winning score at Badminton in 2022 and won Luhmühlen 5* last June before becoming European team gold medallists in August.
McEwen was also in the victorious Tokyo side three years ago with Toledo de Kerser and this time is partnered with the 13-year-old gelding JL Dublin that carried compatriot Nicola Wilson to European double-gold in 2021. The new pairing got off to a flying start last year when runners-up at 5* Lexington in April, parted company at the European Championship in August, finished third at 5* Pau in September and were second again at Lexington this year.
Format
No matter how strong they look however the Olympic three-per-team with no drop-score format, first introduced in Tokyo three years ago, will ensure they will have to be at their very best from the outset in Paris. And they have plenty of super-tough competition.
Like Great Britain, Germany has four Olympic team gold medals in the bag and when Julia Krajewski won individual gold with Amande de B’Neville in Tokyo she was the first female athlete to do so. She is back in the side again in Paris following the late withdrawal of Sandra Auffarth’s Viamant du Matz, and joins Christoph Wahler (Carjatan S) and Michael Jung (Chipmunk FRH) as they also strive for that record first five-time team victory.
Jung is likely to be particularly hungry for success, as the man who took double-gold in London in 2012 and team silver along with the individual title again in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 has been out of luck at more recent championships.
Krajewski’s brilliant mare, Amande de B’Neville, was retired after winning that historic individual gold in Tokyo and then carrying her to team gold and individual silver at the 2022 World Championship. Originally the team reserve, she has moved into the side with the talented 10-year-old gelding Nickel 21 with which she won the CCIO4*-S at Aachen (GER) earlier this month. Wahler and Carjatan were on both the world championship winning team in 2022 and the silver-medal-winning side at last year’s European Championship.
Australia took team silver in Tokyo and they return with two of the same combinations in Kevin McNab with Don Quidam and Shane Rose with Virgil, while completing the side is Christopher Burton partnering Shadow Man.
Rose’s reputation for courage and tenacity, even when the odds are stacked high against him, is second to none. He lines out in Paris with his soul-mate Virgil who he rode to tenth place individually in Tokyo having previously taken team silver at the Beijing 2008 Games and bronze in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
McNab and Don Quidam finished 14th individually in Tokyo while third team member, Christopher Burton, joined Rose on that bronze-medal-winning team in Rio eight years ago before transferring his allegiance to the Jumping arena in 2022. However when offered the ride on British eventer Ben Hobday’s Shadow Man in the spring of this year he turned his focus back to Eventing, and he will be lining out at his third Games.
The French
The French took team bronze in Tokyo and field two members of that side who are also former gold medallists. It’s the same line-up of riders that took bronze at last year’s European Championship but there is one change of horse, as this time 2004 team champion Nicolas Touzaint brings the 11-year-old Diabolo Menthe.
Rio 2016 gold medallist Karim Florent Laghouag will partner his Tokyo 2020 ride Triton Fontaine, and completing the line-up will be Stephan Landois and Chaman Dumontceau who joined Touzaint and Laghouag to clinch that European bronze last summer on home ground at Haras du Pin.
There are many more strong nations also bidding for a place on the podium including the USA and New Zealand who took world championship silver and bronze respectively in 2022, and many exciting individuals too. So the stage is set for a fascinating three days of superb sport starting with Dressage on Saturday 27 July which will be followed by Cross-Country on Sunday 28 and the final Jumping phase on Monday 29.
Eventing has already stolen the spotlight at these Games. Two weeks ago Thibaut Vallette, who joined Laghouag on that gold-medal-winning team in 2016, carried the Olympic Torch through Paris in an emotional celebration on Bastille Day dressed in full uniform and flanked by other horsemen from the world-famous Cadre Noir.
It was a symbolic image and a fitting tribute to the enduring legacy of Eventing which has been embedded in the story of the Olympic programme for well over a century.
What is Eventing?
Once known as “The Military” because it was a test for cavalrymen and their horses, Eventing is the most comprehensive test of horse and rider, combining the separate disciplines of Dressage, Cross Country and Jumping, with results from each phase totalled for a final score. It is the lowest score that wins, both for the team and individual medals.
It has been an Olympic sport since 1912.
How it will play out…..
The Team and Individual competitions will run concurrently over three consecutive days from 27 to 29 July. Dressage tests will be completed on Saturday 27 July, the Cross Country test will be staged on Sunday 28 July and the final Jumping phase will take place on Monday 29 July.
Dressage Test: 2024 Olympic Games 5* test (short).
The top 25 will qualify for the Individual Jumping Final which will take place after the Team Jumping Final on 29 July.
Horses can be substituted for the team competition, and a horse/athlete combination may be substituted by a reserve combination for medical/veterinarian reasons in any of the three tests after the start of the competition.
Substitution will incur a penalty for the team of 20 points. One substitution per team is permitted.
The Athlete rides the same Horse throughout all three tests for the Individual classification.
There will be two horse inspections - on Friday 26 July, the day before the Dressage phase begins, and on 29 July before the final Jumping phase takes place.
A drawn starting order will be used for the Dressage and Cross-Country tests, but in the final Jumping test horse/athlete combinations will go in reverse order of merit.
Some Facts and Figures:
27 countries
16 teams
65 horse/athlete combinations
11 countries represented by individuals
Australia, Germany, Great Britain and USA share the biggest number of team victories in Olympic Eventing history with four each.
Australia, victors in Rome in 1960, has the unique record of winning three team titles in a row - at Barcelona in 1992, Atlanta in 1996 and on home ground in Sydney in 2000.
Team Great Britain are the defending Olympic team champions.
Sweden claimed a hat-trick of team gold. Their last victory was posted in Helsinki in 1952.
Both France and The Netherlands have claimed the team title twice while Italy stood top of the team podium just once, in Tokyo in 1964 when team member Mauro Checcoli and Surbean also clinched individual gold.
Germany holds the record for most individual Olympic Eventing titles with a total of five.
The first German athlete to take the top step of the podium was Ludwig Stubbendorf who rode Nurmi to victory in Berlin in 1936.
German riders have won all of the last four Olympic individual titles - Hinrich Romeike, riding Marius, reigned supreme in Beijing in 2008, Michael Jung and Sam were untouchable for gold at both London in 2012 and Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and Julia Krajewski steered Armande de B’Neville into pole position in Tokyo three years ago.
When the Olympic Games were last staged in Paris in 1924, The Netherlands claimed team gold and team member Adolph van der Voort van Zijp claimed the individual title with Silver-Piece.
History was made when the USA’s Lana du Pont was the first woman to compete in an Olympic three-day-event in Tokyo in 1964.
Julia Krajewski made history as the first-ever female athlete to claim the Olympic individual Eventing title when coming out on top at the Tokyo 2020 Games held in 2021.
At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games a total of 23 female riders (31.51%) will compete in Eventing alongside 42 (68.49%) male athletes.
Germany’s Michael Jung is one of three back-to-back individual Olympic Eventing champions.
The first was The Netherlands Charles Pahud de Mortanges who rode Marcroix to victory on home ground in Amsterdam in 1928 and again in Los Angeles four years later.
Kiwi legend, Sir Mark Todd, was back-to-back champion with Charisma in Los Angeles in 1984 and Seoul in 1988.
Jung recorded his back-to-back double in London in 2012 and Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
The Officials
Technical Delegate: Marcin Konarski (POL)
Assistant Technical Delegate: Gaston Bileitczuk (FRA)
Ground Jury President: Christina Klingspor (SWE)
Ground Jury Members:
Course Designer: Pierre Le Goupil (FRA)
Countries fielding teams:
Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland and USA.
Countries fielding individuals:
Austria, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, Hungary, Morocco, Portugal, South Africa and Spain.
Complete List of Nations:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and USA.
Timetable here
Complete List of Athletes/Horses here
Image by FEI / Libby Law
With just days until the equestrian competitions begin, the first sound of hooves has echoed through the historic grounds of Versailles, signalling the arrival of some of the most elite equine athletes in the world.
The arrival of the Eventing horses today, will be followed by the Dressage horses in two days, with the Jumping horses scheduled to arrive on 28 July. For these four-legged Olympians who have been training hard to compete on a global stage, their accommodation is nothing short of a five star rating.
Four-Legged athletes deserve five-star facilities
The stables at Versailles are more than just a place to rest. Each horse will enjoy a spacious 4m x 3m box with rubber mats and locally-sourced bedding of straw or shavings, ensuring comfort and sustainability. These horses are also attended to by dedicated grooms who will provide personalised care.
Versailles is not just about stabling. The grounds provide ample areas for grazing and exercise, three sand rings for lunging, six exercise areas –including one covered area –plus a gallop track and dedicated grazing zones. It is a comprehensive setup designed to ensure that each horse can thrive and perform at their best.
A team of highly experienced farriers service the horses with individually adapted hoof care.
Staying cool and calm in Versailles
Staying comfortable in the Paris summer will not be a problem for these equine athletes who will benefit from state-of-the-art cooling systems installed in their stables.
The FEI has implemented advanced climate monitoring using the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index. Should temperatures rise, the FEI is ready to activate Heat Mitigation Protocols, proven effective during the Tokyo 2020 Games in keeping horses cool and comfortable.
Strategically placed shade tents, misting fans, and mobile cooling units are scattered throughout the venue, alongside plenty of water points and wash-down areas, ensuring hydration and comfort for all. With a focus on welfare, the horses will be monitored using cutting-edge thermal imaging technology to detect and prevent overheating, allowing them to be in peak condition for competition.
Veterinary care - par excellence
A world-class veterinary team is on standby, ready to provide top-notch care and support for the equine athletes. With a full-time staff that includes specialised veterinarians, imaging experts, and equine physical therapists, the horses at Versailles will receive the best medical attention if needed.
Safety First: Rigorous biosecurity measures
Horses will be under strict biosecurity protocols throughout their stay in Versailles, overseen by the FEI Veterinary Commission and a dedicated biosecurity team.
Daily health checks, temperature monitoring, and thorough cleaning and disinfection practices will ensure the highest standards of hygiene and safety.
“The monitoring of Olympic horses begins 15 days prior to their arrival at the venue,” explained FEI Veterinary Director Göran Åkerström.
“Each team is required to take and record their horse's temperature daily using the FEI Horse App.
“Upon arrival, the horses are unloaded and examined by the Paris 2024 Veterinary Team to ensure they are in good health. Horses that pass this examination are installed in the stables by discipline, while those that do not are placed in isolation stables. Follow-up monitoring continues for 15 days after they leave the venue to ensure traceability for biosecurity reasons.”
The equestrian events at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024 are scheduled to run from 27 July to 6 August.
All images by FEI / Ben Clark
The FEI has officially announced the provisional suspension of British Dressage athlete Charlotte Dujardin (FEI ID: 10028440), effective immediately from the date of notification, 23 July 2024.*
This decision renders her ineligible to participate in the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games or any other events under the jurisdiction of the FEI.
During this period of suspension, she is prohibited from participating in any activities related to competitions or events under the jurisdiction of the FEI or any competition or event under the jurisdiction of a National Federation (NF). This also includes any FEI or NF-related activities. In addition, the British Equestrian Federation has mirrored this provisional suspension, which also makes Ms. Dujardin ineligible to compete in any national events during this period.
On 22 July 2024, the FEI received a video depicting Ms. Dujardin engaging in conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare. This video was submitted to the FEI by a lawyer representing an undisclosed complainant. According to the information received, the footage was allegedly taken several years ago during a training session conducted by Ms. Dujardin at a private stable.
Upon receiving the video, the FEI promptly initiated an investigation. As part of this investigation, Ms. Dujardin, British Equestrian, and British Dressage were informed of the allegations. Ms Dujardin was given a deadline of 17:00 Swiss time on 23 July to respond to the allegations. Subsequently, Ms. Dujardin confirmed that she is the individual depicted in the video and acknowledged that her conduct was inappropriate.
On 23 July 2024, Charlotte Dujardin requested to be provisionally suspended pending the outcome of the investigations and voluntarily withdrew from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and also confirmed that she will not participate in any competitions pending the outcome of the FEI’s investigation.
The FEI condemns any conduct contrary to the welfare of horses and has robust rules in place to address such behaviour. Our commitment to ensuring the highest standards of equine welfare and sportsmanship remains unwavering.
The FEI acknowledges the cooperation of Charlotte Dujardin, British Equestrian, and British Dressage with the ongoing investigation and intends to proceed as swiftly as possible.
“We are deeply disappointed with this case, especially as we approach the Olympic Games in Paris 2024. However, it is our responsibility and crucial that we address any instances of abuse, as equine welfare cannot be compromised,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said.
“Charlotte has expressed genuine remorse for her actions, and we recognise and appreciate her willingness to take responsibility. Despite the unfortunate timing, we believe this action reaffirms the FEI’s commitment to welfare as the guardians of our equine partners and the integrity of our sport.”
To maintain the integrity of the investigation, the FEI will refrain from making further comments on this matter until the process is concluded.
Correction: The FEI announced initially that Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) has been provisionally suspended for a period of six months. In fact, the provisional suspension will remain in place pending the outcome of the investigation/disciplinary proceedings and the opening sentence should read “The FEI has officially announced the provisional suspension of British Dressage athlete Charlotte Dujardin (FEI ID: 10028440) effective immediately from the date of notification, 23 July 2024.”
When equestrian sport first became part of the Olympic Games, Team Sweden was an unstoppable force taking Jumping gold in Stockholm in 1912, in Antwerp in 1920 and in Paris in 1924. They had to wait 97 years before taking their fourth team title in Tokyo in 2021, but nobody is betting against them making it a fabulous five when the action gets underway at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games next week.
Sweden has dominated the Jumping landscape since that Tokyo victory, taking the World Championship team title in 2022 and the European Championship team title in 2023 while team-member Henrik von Eckermann has stood top of the individual world rankings for the last two years and doesn’t look likely to yield that position anytime soon. So much so that individual Olympic gold is clearly in his sights this time around having clinched back-to-back World Cup titles with his wonderful 14-year-old gelding King Edward who finished just off the podium, in fourth place, three years ago.
Chef d’Equipe, Henrik Ankarcrona, has all three riders from that Tokyo team on call-up and two of the same horses, King Edward and Malin Baryard-Johnsson’s feisty mare Indiana, the latter the alternate selection this time around.
Peder Fredricson who already had team and individual silver medals from previous Games before taking both team gold and individual silver in Tokyo with All In, will partner the 18-year-old Catch Me Not S. And the third Swedish team member is also a veteran, the multi-medalled Rolf-Göran Bengtsson who will bring the 12-year-old stallion Zuccero HV as he lines out at the sixth Games of his sparkling career.
Other nations
Of course 19 other nations will also be battling for the top step of the podium including the Tokyo 2020 silver medallists from the USA and Team Belgium who took the bronze.
Historically, Germany holds the record for the greatest number of Olympic Jumping gold medals with five individual and eight team titles. They won in Berlin in 1936 and were back-to-back champions in Stockholm in 1956, Rome in 1960 and Tokyo in 1964, winners again in Munich in 1972 and in Seoul in 1988, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney in 2000.
The only other country to post back-to-back team gold is the USA. They have topped the podium three times, first in Los Angeles in 1984 and then winning twice in a row at Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008. Notably McLain Ward was on both of those last two winning sides and his exceptionally consistent Olympic record also includes team silver in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and again in Tokyo in 2021. He lines out once again in Paris next week.
If current form is anything to go by however then the considerably smaller nation of Ireland could be the one to beat. The Irish have been hugely impressive in Nations Cup competitions in recent years and scooped team silver at last year’s European Championship. They were ranked the No. 1 country in the world as 2024 began, and their spectacular victory on the hallowed ground of Aachen (GER) just a few short weeks ago suggests they will definitely be ones to watch.
But those European Championships in Milan (ITA) last summer were a reminder that, in equestrian sport, absolutely nothing is predictable. Even the team members themselves seemed to be completely taken aback when Austria pushed the mighty Germans off the medal podium to take team bronze.
Individual
Meanwhile all three Tokyo individual medallists will be in action again.
Great Britain’s Ben Maher, who steered the brilliant Explosion to victory three years ago, is currently ranked second in the world and will this time partner the 10-year-old stallion Point Break. Peder Fredricson’s silver-medal-winning All In is now retired so Catch Me Not S is stepping up and has been showing brilliant form this year highlighted by their third-place finish at the World Cup Final in April. And Maikel van der Vleuten returns with the same horse who earned bronze last time around, Beauville Z, who went on to also take individual bronze for the Dutchman at the World Championship in 2022.
The three-per-team format is unforgiving and only the best of the best will qualify for the individual final, so the stage is set for four days of intriguing sport before another page is written into the history book of Jumping at the Olympic Games.
What is Jumping?
Jumping is an equestrian sport in which horse-and-athlete combinations jump knockable fences inside an arena, with penalties for knock-downs, refusals, horse or athlete falls and for going over the time allowed. There are a variety of competitions including speed events, and some will conclude with a jump-off which can be compared to a penalty shoot-out in soccer, and the result is just as unpredictable.
How it will play out….
In a change to the format introduced at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the Team Competition will take place first, followed by the battle for the Individual medals.
The Team Qualifier will take place on Thursday 1 August and is open to 20 teams of three athletes, all starting on a zero score. It will be a one-round Table A against the clock.
Team scores will be decided by adding the penalties and time incurred by all three team members. Athletes who do not start, withdraw, are eliminated or retire from the competition will not be given a score, and their team will be placed according to the combined scores of the remaining two team-members. Three-member teams will be placed ahead of teams of two.
The best 10 teams, including those tied for 10th place, will qualify for the Team Final which will take place on 2 August. It will be a Table A class against the clock over one round with a jump-off for first place in the event of equality of penalties. Starting order will be in reverse order of merit from the first Team competition. Disqualification of a team member will result in disqualification for that team.
The first Individual competition will take place on Monday 5 August and is a qualifier for the Individual Final the following day. It will be a Table A against the clock and without a jump-off. Athletes will place according to their penalties and in case of a tie they will be separated by the time of their round. If still tied, they will be placed equal.
The Individual Final on Tuesday 6 August will bring the equestrian events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games to a close. It is open to the 30 best-placed athletes from the first Individual competition and will be Table A, one round against the clock, with a jump-off for first place if there is a tie on penalties. All athletes start on a zero score in the Individual Final and the starting order will be in reverse order of merit following the first Individual competition.
Some Facts and Figures
35 countries
20 teams
75 horse/athlete combinations
15 countries represented by individuals.
Teams will consist of three athlete/horse combinations with all three scores counting for the result.
The youngest competitor in Jumping at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is 21-year-old UAE team member Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi.
The oldest competitor in Jumping is Swedish team member Rolf-Göran Bengtsson who is 62.
No female athlete has ever won Olympic individual gold in Jumping, but Great Britain’s Marion Coakes and the amazing pony, Stroller, claimed Individual silver in Mexico in 1968 while in Munich in 1972 her compatriot, Ann Moore, took silver with Psalm.
Three female athletes have won Individual Jumping bronze - Heidi Robbiani (SUI) at Los Angeles in 1984 riding Jessica V, Alexandra Ledermann (FRA) in Atlanta in 1996 riding Rochet M and Beezie Madden (USA) in Beijing in 2008 riding Authentic.
Three former Olympic Individual gold medalists will line out - Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa (Athens 2004), Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat (London 2012) and the defending Olympic champion Ben Maher from Great Britain who took the top step of the Individual podium in Tokyo three years ago.
A total of 33 riders will be competing at their first Olympic Games in Paris.
A total of 65 horses will compete at Olympic level for the first time.
Pierre Jonquères d'Oriola from France is the only athlete to win the Individual Olympic Jumping title on more than one occasion. Riding Ali Baba he reigned supreme in Helsinki in 1952 and with Lutteur B he was victorious once again in Tokyo in 1964.
Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa will be the most experienced equestrian Olympian at this year’s Games when making his eighth appearance. The 51-year-old Jumping rider previously competed in Barcelona in 1992, Atlanta in 1996, Sydney in 2000, Athens in 2004, Beijing in 2008, London in 2012 and Tokyo in 2021.
A total of seven former Olympic team gold medallists have been listed for Paris - USA’s McLain Ward (Beijing 2008), Great Britain’s Scott Brash and Ben Maher (London 2012), Frenchman Kevin Staut (Rio de Janeiro 2016) and all three members of the victorious Swedish side in Tokyo three years ago - Henrik von Eckermann, Malin Baryard-Johnsson and Peder Fredricson. Baryard-Johnsson is this time listed as team alternate.
The Officials:
Technical Delegate: Guilherme Nogueira Jorge (BRA)
Ground Jury President: Frances Hesketh-Jones (ITA)
Ground Jury Members:
Course Designer: Santiago Varela (ESP)
Co-Course Designer: Gregory Bodo (FRA)
Countries fielding Teams:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, United Arab Emirates and USA.
Countries fielding Individuals:
Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Portugal, Syria, Thailand and Venezuela.
The complete list of Nations:
Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Great Britain, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, USA and Venezuela.
Timetable here https://inside.fei.org/fei/
Full lists here https://inside.fei.org/fei/
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