Jessica Springsteen, the daughter of Bruce Springsteen, will not compete for the United States at the Olympics in Paris. It was announced on Saturday that she was left off of the equestrian team roster.
Although the decision makes sense from a logistical standpoint, Team USA choosing to pass on the reigning silver medalist is still a little bit of a surprise.
The 32-year-old is a competitive show jumper. Her horse, Don Juan van de Donkhoeve, is a 15-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion.
Springsteen was ranked as high as No. 14 in the world when she qualified for Tokyo in 2021. She helped deliver a fourth medal for the Americans in the past five Olympic Games with a second-place finish.
However, pandemic-related restrictions dampened some of the atmosphere and Springsteen hoped to run it back for the full experience in Paris.
Tokyo 2020 was such an incredible experience, but because of that year and all the restrictions, you know, you couldn’t have your family and your friends there. So I was like, oh my gosh, I would love to go to another Olympics and be able to share that with my family, who’ve been so supportive of my career for so many years.
— Jessica Springsteen, via Harper’s Bazaar
Her father, The Boss, was one of the people who was going to make the trip. He left a two-week opening on his summer tour schedule that coincides with the international competition in France.
Unfortunately, travel will not be necessary.
Jessica Springsteen didn’t make the team.
USA Equestrian announced that Kent Farrington, Laura Kraut and McLain Ward will be the three representatives. Karl Cook is the alternate.
- Springsteen is currently ranked No. 127 by the Federation for Equestrian Sports.
- Farrington is a three-time Olympian and ranked No. 6.
- Ward is six-time Olympian and ranked No. 15.
- Kraut is a four-time Olympian and ranked No. 35.
- Cook is ranked No. 23.
There are other American riders ranked ahead of Springsteen as well. She has not had the best year.
However, the reigning silver medalist was still on track to make the team. The U.S. Jumping Team named her as one of the 10 athletes on a short list for Paris in April. Her performance over the last three months just wasn’t enough.
So while this decision is logical based on their rankings, Springsteen might’ve received the bid over Cook. If that was the case, Team USA would’ve looked exactly the same as it did three years ago.
Although Jessica Springsteen missed out on this year’s Olympics, she is actually considered to be on the young end of the sport. Kraut is 58 years old! 2028, 2032 and even 2036 are still very much in play.