The Belgian Equestrian Federation (KBRSF) has announced Jérôme Guéry and Nicola Philippaerts as their representatives for the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games next month. Although Belgium did not qualify with a team, both Jérôme Guéry and Gregory Wathelet secured two individual tickets for the Olympics.

Chef d’Equipe Dirk Demeersman has now decided that Guéry and Philippaerts will represent Belgium in Rio, as Gregory Wathelet’s Olympic candidate Conrad de Hus (Con Air x Locato) was sold to Double H Farm earlier this year. Although Jérôme Guéry secured his spot aboard Papillon Z (Perhaps x Cassini I), he will be riding Grand Cru van de Rozenberg (Malito de Rêve x Heartbreaker) in Rio. Aboard Grand Cru, Guéry won the CSIO5* Grand Prix of La Baule in May of this year. “The performances and qualities of Papillon Z cannot be underestimated and the federation can only be thanking the horse, the owner and his rider for his wonderful performances. But, after long and difficult discussions, the Chef d’Equipe decided along with rider Jérôme Guéry that Grand Cru van de Rozenberg will be a wiser choice to achieve the best possible result in Rio,” the Belgian Equestrian Federation states in a press release.

Nicola Philippaerts will be riding his impressive mount Zilverstar T (Berlin x Cavalier), while Judy-Ann Melchior will be reserve aboard As Cold As Ice Z (Artos Z x Carthago). Nicola Philippaerts will also be a stand-by with Bisquet Balou C (Balou du Rouet x Polydor).

Source: Equibel // Text © World of Showjumping // Picture © Tiffany van Halle