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Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann entered the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris as the reigning Olympic champion in show jumping and the No. 1 r
anked male show jumper in the world.
But he’ll leave Paris empty-handed after his horse, King Edward, rebelled mid-way through his finals run, ejecting von Eckermann from the saddle and sending him crashing to the ground.
Meanwhile, British team gold winner Harry Charles withdrew from the finals and he stated that his horse, Romeo 88 unfit to compete.
British women’s rider Charlotte Dujardin pulled out of the Olympics before the games began after an undisclosed investigation.
Germany’s Christian Kukuk went on to take home gold in the event.
“I still need some time to realize it,” Kukuk said afterward. “It’s just so emotional right now.”
Horses Continue Seemingly Organized Olympic Revolution
On their own, the events of Tuesday’s final are surprising enough. But they also represent a growing trend among horseback events at the Olympics.
In 2021, Germany’s Annika Schleu lost gold in the modern pentathlon when the horse she was riding, Saint Boy, refused to cooperate. Schleu was seen repeatedly whipping the horse in hopes of getting it to cooperate.
Schlue was left in tears and German coach Kim Raisner was ejected from the games after she was seen punching the horse after the incident.
“The hatred I encountered on social media has masked the disappointment about the missed medal,” Schleu told Germany’s Die Zeit newspaper.
“I did not treat the horse extremely harshly. I had a crop with me that was checked beforehand. Exactly like the spurs. I am really not aware of any cruelty to animals.
“I started crying relatively quickly, I was so tense because I realized that the competition could be over before I even started riding.
“The seconds that passed then felt much longer to me. It was a hopeless, difficult situation for the horse and for me.”
Modern Pentathlon is back at the 2024 Olympics. But beginning in 2028 in LA, it will swap show jumping for an obstacle course event.