You participated in seven Olympic Games: first in Barcelona in 1992, at the age of 20, as the youngest equestrian sports athlete; then, Olympic champion in Athens in 2004 and two team bronze medals in Atlanta in 1996 and in Sydney in the year 2000. How do you feel today on the eve of Paris 2024?
This is my eighth Olympic participation and it is as special as all the others. It is always thrilling. Nothing in sports is as special as the Olympic Games, and the way to it is long. You start from afar. When you receive the selection notification, that is the moment you find again your peace of mind and with it your full concentration. I haven't done anything different than usual; I have just made sure that my horse is mentally calm and in top physical shape.
How did you choose your partner and what kind of training did you do with him in the run-up to the Olympic Games?
I have thought that Major Tom (BWP 2013) might be an Olympic horse ever since I started riding him. I immediately had the feeling that he was an extremely talented and extraordinarily intelligent individual. He has developed in an ideal way, with no hurry, also due to the slowdown of competitions during the Covid pandemic. The horse arrives in Paris in excellent shape and we have finalized his preparation with good groundwork. Three weeks at the beach and a lot of conditioning. We have a very strong team, with great quality, and we will be able to play a good card.
What do you expect from the courses in Paris. Are you familiar with the work of the two chefs de piste?
I have often had the opportunity to jump the courses designed by Santiago Varela and Gregory Bodo, both of whom are highly experienced and skilled course designers. I’m sure they will do a great job.
What do you think of the Olympic Games formula?
I consider this formula as very negative. The horse is a competition mate that may also perform below his or her level. There are bad days for horses too and you may retire or be eliminated. However, this could seal the fate of the competition also for the team, so the rider is not in a position to make the right choices. After Tokyo, we, as riders, had already voiced our disappointment to the FEI, but the timing for this change was too tight with only three years to go before the next Olympic Games. We will immediately call again for amending this rule.
Your prediction for the individual podium:
1) Henrick Von Eckermann; 2) Martin Fuchs; 3) Ben Maher
Your prediction for the team podium:
1) Germany; 2) Switzerland; 3) The Netherlands
Press Release: IJRC Press Office
Portrait photo © IJRC/F.Petroni