Paris 2024: Britain secures Gold in thrilling Team Show Jumping Final
Paris 2024 Olympics: Silver for the USA, Bronze for France
Versailles, August 2, 2024 – The Paris 2024 Olympic Games delivered an exhilarating Team Show Jumping Final, where Great Britain claimed the gold medal, followed by the United States securing silver, and the host nation, France, earning bronze. The competition was particularly disappointing for Germany, who, after a stunning performance in the qualifiers, ended the Games in fifth place.
The course, designed by Gregory Bodo and Santiago Varela, featured 14 challenging obstacles, including two combinations at fences four and thirteen, and a double combination at ten. The latter, with a vertical line, proved to be one of the most challenging parts, causing errors even among the most seasoned riders.
The first clear round of the day was achieved by Olivier Perreau of France, riding Dorai D’Aiguilly, completing the course with no faults in a time of 77.70 seconds. This performance ignited the home crowd and boosted France’s morale, as they aimed for at least a silver despite finishing seventh in the qualifiers.
Following him was the young Harry Charles, son of the renowned Peter Charles, who rode Romeo 88 for Great Britain. Charles completed the course in 78.28 seconds without any penalties, marking the best result for the gold-winning team.
Karl Cook, riding Caracole de la Roque for the United States, posted another clear round with a time of 75.88 seconds. Tension rose as McLain Ward followed suit on Ilex, completing a faultless round in 76.57 seconds, keeping the American team’s medal hopes alive.
Kim Emmen, riding Imagine for the Netherlands, recorded a clear round with a time of 78.61 seconds. For Germany, Philipp Weishaupt on Zineday also delivered a faultless round, timing in at 77.06 seconds. Daniel Coyle of Ireland, riding Legacy, rounded off the top performances with a clear round at 76.72 seconds.
Among the top contenders for Great Britain, Ben Maher, the gold medalist at Tokyo 2020, riding Dallas Vegas Batilly, completed his round with zero jumping faults but incurred a time penalty, finishing in 79.65 seconds.
Additionally, Scott Brash on Hello Jefferson contributed significantly to Great Britain’s gold medal win, completing his round with zero faults and one time penalty, clocking in at 79.54 seconds.
For the United States, an exceptional Laura Kraut on Baloutinue incurred four penalties and finished in 77.45 seconds, securing the silver medal for the team.
France’s bronze medal performance was highlighted by Simon Delestre on I Amelusina R 51, who ended with no jumping faults but incurred three time penalties, completing in 81.59 seconds. Julien Epaillard on Dubai du Cedre added four faults with a time of 78.83 seconds.
Sweden, known for its strong tradition in show jumping, finished with a total of 12 penalties and a cumulative time of 229.76 seconds, missing out on a podium finish. Despite strong efforts, including from world number one Henrik von Eckermann on King Edward, who completed with four faults in 77.30 seconds, the accumulated penalties proved too costly.
The German team, who had shone in the qualifiers, struggled in the final, finishing with a total of 8 penalties and a time of 229.57 seconds, placing them fifth. Despite a clean round from Philipp Weishaupt on Zineday, the team’s earlier rounds, including four faults each from Christian Kukuk on Checker 47 and Richard Vogel on United Touch S, sealed their fate.
Final Standings
- Great Britain (GBR) – Gold Medal – 237.47 sec; 2 total penalties
- Ben Maher on Dallas Vegas Batilly: 0 jumping faults, 1 time penalty, total 1, time 79.65.
- Harry Charles on Romeo 88: clear round, time 78.28.
- Scott Brash on Jefferson: 0 jumping faults, 1 time penalty, total 1, time 79.54.
- United States of America (USA) – Silver Medal – 229.90 sec; 4 total penalties
- Laura Kraut on Baloutinue: 4 faults, time 77.45.
- Karl Cook on Caracole de la Roque: clear round, time 75.88.
- McLain Ward on Ilex: clear round, time 76.57.
- France (FRA) – Bronze Medal – 238.12 sec; 7 total penalties
- Simon Delestre on I Amelusina R 51: 0 jumping faults, 3 time penalties, total 3, time 81.59.
- Olivier Perreau on Dorai d’Aiguilly: clear round, time 77.70.
- Julien Epaillard on Dubai du Cedre: 4 faults, time 78.83.
Other notable performances included the Netherlands finishing fourth with 7 penalties and Germany in fifth. The competition saw Sweden end in sixth, Ireland in seventh, Belgium in eighth, Israel in ninth, and Mexico having to withdraw due to veterinary reasons.
The victory reaffirmed Great Britain’s elite status in show jumping, recalling their triumph in 2012. The USA’s silver and France’s bronze highlighted the fierce competition among the top teams, making this one of the most exciting finals in recent years.
With the team event concluded, all eyes now turn to the individual qualifiers on Monday, August 5th, at 14:00, where the top 30 pairs will compete in the finals on Wednesday, August 6th, at 10:00, to determine the individual show jumping medals at Paris 2024.
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