Michael Jung makes debut at Eventing world number one

Michael Jung (GER), who in 2012 became the first Eventing athlete to hold the European, world and Olympic titles simultaneously after scoring individual and team gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games, has jumped to the top of the FEI World Eventing Rankings for the first time in his career.

William Fox-Pitt (GBR), the multiple Olympic, World and European medallist who has held the world number one slot for the past 12 months, has now dropped to second.

Jung (32), who was third in last month’s rankings, now has a 58-point lead over Fox-Pitt, with Jonelle Price (NZL) dropping down one place to third but holding on as highest placed female athlete in the world Eventing rankings.

Jung started riding aged six and came to prominence after making his international début in 2009 when he won the Luhmühlen CCI4* on home-turf in Germany, the FEI World Cup™ Eventing final in Strzegom (POL) and an individual European bronze medal in Fontainebleau (FRA). These successes all came with La Biosthetique Sam FBW, the horse that Jung rode to individual gold at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Kentucky (USA) in 2010 and double gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Jung was also part of Germany’s golden team at last year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Normandy (FRA), where he finished second behind his compatriot Sandra Auffarth in the individual rankings.

Last weekend, Jung won leg three of the FEI Classics™ series at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day event (USA) with the mare FisherRocana FST and also finished third on La Biosthetique Sam FBW. He now leads the standings of this prestigious series which links the world’s four-star events.

European Championships in sight

Jung has also claimed team and individual gold at the last two FEI European Championships (2011 and 2013) and will be looking to defend his title at the Longines FEI European Eventing Championships 2015 at Blair Castle in the Scottish Highlands on 10-13 September (see video here).

View full FEI World Eventing Rankings here.