Charlotte Dujardin, the winner of the Dressage gold medal in London and Rio. © FEI
Ahead of the final definite entries – expected any moment now – a number of nations have confirmed their finals selections for the Olympic Games…
Monday 5 July at midnight was the deadline to submit the definite entries for the Tokyo 2020 Games.
The final list is still being signed off, but in the meantime, a number of National federations have communicated their top pick and who will be wearing their colours at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, which will open on Friday, July 23
The great news is that the finest collection of equestrian talent ever assembled will be heading to Tokyo ahead of the Opening Ceremony. But it’s sad that some equally amazing horse and human stars won’t make it – although their podium chances will come around another time.
Germany
Perhaps the most hotly contested place is to make the German Dressage squad, with that nation so dominant in the discipline. The three places have gone to Isabell Werth & Bella Rose, Jessica von Bredow-Werndl & Dalera BB and Dorothee Schneider & Showtime FRH, with Helen Langehanenberg & Annabelle in reserve.
The short-listed Frederic Wandres and Benjamin Werndl as well as the injured Ingrid Klimke didn’t make it this time. What strength the Germans have!
In Eventing, Germany go with Sandra Auffarth & Viamant du Matz, Michael Jung & fischerChipmunk FRH and Julia Krajewski & Amande de B’Neville, with Andreas Dibowski & FRH Corrida in reserve.
Jung, of course, is aiming for a third consecutive Individual Eventing gold medal!
Germany’s Jumping team is led by World No.1 Daniel Deusser & Killer Queen VDM, along with Christian Kukuk & Mumbai, Maurice Tebbel & Don Diarado and André Thieme & DSP Chakaria.
Great Britain
Charlotte Dujardin, the winner of the Dressage gold medal in London and Rio, competes with Gio in Japan, as Mount St John Freestyle is not 100% fit. She’ll compete alongside Carl Hester & En Vogue, Charlotte Fry & Everdale and reserve Gareth Hughes & Sintano van Hof Olympia.
Great Britain’s Eventing team is super-competitive and the selectors have gone with Laura Collett & London 52, Tom McEwen & Toledo de Kerser and Oliver Townend & Ballaghmor Class, with Piggy March & Brookfield Inocent in reserve.
That means reigning FEI World Equestrian Games champion Ros Canter will not compete.
GB’s Jumping team includes London 2012 team gold medallists Scott Brash and Ben Maher along with debutant Holly Smith, and Harry Charles is named as travelling reserve.
Team GB Chef de Mission for the Tokyo Olympic Games, Mark England, said: “We are delighted to welcome returning Olympic gold medallists Scott and Ben to Team GB for the Tokyo Olympic Games, who add an incredible amount of experience to this exciting side. I’d also like to congratulate Holly on her selection – this a pivotal moment as she becomes the first female named on the Team GB Jumping team in 45 years, and we have no doubt that this debut Games will be a very special experience for both her and her teammates.”
USA
Jessica Springsteen has been selected to represent the US in Jumping in Tokyo. The 29-year-old, who was an alternate rider at London 2012 but missed Rio 2016, will team up with Don Juan van de Donkhoeve at the Olympics, alongside Kent Farrington & Gazelle, Laura Kraut & Baloutinue and McLain Ward & Contagious.
The decision came after Beezie Madden withdrew from consideration after her horse Garant pulled out of the weekend’s competition in Rotterdam. Young stars Brian Moggre and Lucy Deslauriers are in reserve for the US team.
Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland said: “I feel very confident that the seasoned group of riders that we will be sending to Tokyo is in top current form and peaking at just the right time.”
The US Eventing team is made up of Pan Am Games champion Boyd Martin & Tsetserleg, as well as Philip Dutton & Z, Liz Halliday-Sharp & Deniro Z and travelling reserve Doug Payne & Vandiver.
The US Dressage team features Steffen Peters & Suppenkasper, Adrienne Lyle & Salvino, Sabine Schut-Kery & Sanceo and travelling reserve Nick Wagman & Don John.
Japan
The host nation have also made their decisions as to who will perform in front of the Japanese fans.
They finished fourth in Eventing at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games, and will aim to match their performance on home turf. They will include Yoshiaki Oiwa & Tullyoran Cruise JRA, Toshiyuki Tanaka & Talma D’allou, Kazuma Tomoto & Vinci de la Vigne JRA and reserve Ryuzo Kitajima & Feroza Nieuwmoed.
The Japanese Jumping team will feature Eiken Sato & Saphyr De Lacs, Daisuke Fukushima & Canyon and Taizo Saito & Chirensky JRA. Mike Kawai & As De Mai are reserves.
Japan’s Dressage team consists of Kazuki Sado & Ludwig der Sonnenkonig, Shingo Hayashi & Schoolchildren and Hiroyuki Kitahara & Huracan. The reserve will be Masano Takahashi & Rubicon.
Jumping
Switzerland feature two athletes in the top 5 of Jumping’s Longines Rankings, and Steve Guerdat & Venard de Cerisy and Martin Fuchs & Clooney 51 must be among the favourites. The team also includes Bryan Balsiger & Twentytwo des Biches and Beat Mandli & Dsarie.
Belgium also have plenty of strength through Niels Bruynseels & Delux van T&L, Jerome Guery & Quel Homme de Hus, Gregory Wathelet & Nevados S and Yves Vanderhasselt & Jeunesse. Pieter Devos, ranked in the world’s top 20 and a key part of their success in recent years, does not make the trip.
Belgian national coach Peter Weinberg said: “I think there are currently no stronger combinations than the ones I have selected.”
Peder Fredricson, who won Individual silver with H&M All In in Rio, will aim to go one better with the same horse and a strong Sweden team, while Ireland’s Darragh Kenny and France’s Pénélope Leprevost and Simon Delestre will also be there.
Dressage
A strong Swedish team includes Patrik Kittel & Well Done de la Roche CMF, Therese Nilshagen & Dante Weltino OLD, Juliette Ramel & Buriel KH along with reserve Antonia Ramel & Brother de Jeu.
Spain include Beatriz Ferrer-Salat & Elegance and Claudio Castilla Ruiz & Alcaide, while France feature Morgan Barbançon Mestre & Sir Donnerhall II. Cathrine Dufour will take Bohemian and is sure to be among the contenders.
Eventing
France won Team Eventing in 2016, but only Thibaut Vallette LCL & Qing du Briot*IFCE retain their places from that golden year. France in 2021 also feature Thomas Carlile & Birmane, Christopher Six & Totem de Brecey and Nicolas Touzaint & Absolut Gold*HDC.
The highly-fancied New Zealand team includes Tim Price & Vitali and Jonelle Price & Grovine de Reve along with Jesse Campbell & Diachello.
Sweden feature Louise Romeike & Cato 60, Ludwig Svennerstal & Balham Mist, Therese Viklund & Viscera and reserve Sara Algotsson Ostholt & Chicuelo.
The wonderful Andrew Hoy – who becomes the first Australian to appear at an eighth Games – will compete with Vassily de Lassos, and alongside Chris Burton & Quality Purdey, Shane Rose & Virgil and reserve Stuart Tinney & Leporis.
China’s first-ever Eventing team to qualify for the Olympics includes Alex Hua Tian, Bao Yingfeng, Sun Huadong and Liang Ruiji.
Source: FEI media
READ THE LATEST NEWS ARTICLES HERE
