Main image: Tobias Thorning Jørgensen of Denmark riding Jolene Hill at the Tokyo Paralympics. Image by FEI/Liz Gregg.
Inside Paris | Presented by RB Sellars
There has been a major change to the Paris Paralympic line-up after defending Grade III champion Tobias Thorning Jørgensen announced he will not be able to compete. Unfortunately his mare developed travel sickness on route to the venue at Versailles and an emotional Tobias made it public knowledge he will be withdrawing from the 2024 Paralympics.
Tobias and 16-year-old mare Jolene have won Individual and Freestyle gold at every major championship since 2019. They were considered the Grade III favourites and “the ones to beat” going into the Games.
Tobias, who was a flag bearer at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games opening ceremony, said that Jolene’s well-being comes first.
“Of course I’m super sad and disappointed that I can’t compete down here. It’s something I’ve fought a lot for and which means a lot to me, but my own ambitions and dreams must never, ever weigh more than Jolene’s well-being, and that’s also why we’ve chosen to pull her,” he said.
The deadline to substitute a horse and rider combination passed on the 18th of August so the pair cannot be replaced. Denmark will now continue with a team of three: Katrine Kristensen, Pia Wulff Jelstrup, and Karla Dyhm Junge.
