We look back at Wednesday’s Olympic individual final at the Baji Koen Equestrian Park, where all three Swedish riders pulled off clear rounds to make it to the jump-off – an incredible achievement! Here Henrik von Eckermann who ended just outside the podium after a fantastic double clear round with the stunning King Edward.
All photos © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping. No reproduction of these images is permitted.
Malin Baryard-Johnsson was also double clear with Indiana, and finished fifth individually.
It was not only the Swedes who impressed, the Japanese came strong in force too with three riders in the final. Yet again, Daisuke Fukushima delivered an unbelievable performance and jumped double clear with Chanyon to finish 6th individually at the Olympic Games on home soil! Talk about delivering!
It was not Beat Mändli’s day, he retired Dsarie towards the end of the course after having two fences down and a foot in the water.
It was a tough course, set at 1.65m, and Santiago Varela had made sure there was nowhere to take a breather. Norway’s Geir ‘Jimmy’ Gulliksen also retired after having multiple fences down with Quatro, here the last jump the pair did before going out of the ring.
The chopsticks on the Japanese food fence went flying for Great Britain's Harry Charles, who also called it a day as one pole after the other fell for him and Romeo 88 – but at only 22 the British rider will for sure be back stronger for other championships.
Israel’s Ashlee Bond and Donatello 141 did another great round, but unfortunately had a pole down on the Himeji Castle oxer at seven.
Gregory Wathelet's Nevados unfortunately took a rail down on the upright that followed on five strides from the open water, which kept the two out of the jump-off.
The pole on top of the massive Mount Fuji fence, set at 1.65m, fell over and over again – as here for Ireland's Bertram Allen and Pacino Amiro.
The time allowed at 88 seconds also pushed riders to make tough choices: Belgium’s Jerome Guery was among them, with a clear all the way to the final 1.66m upright he had to hunt the time to make it – which unfortunately caused some communication issues and an unexpected stop at the last fence.
The time allowed also put a stop to Scott Brash's dreams of an individual medal with Jefferson. The two jumped a beautiful round, but were a heartbreaking 0.45 seconds outside the time limit.
Cian O'Connor's Kilkenny is only 9-years-of age but nevertheless jumped around with only a single time fault over the massive track, impressing with his quality and scope. Unfortunately, the gelding got a nosebleed towards the end of the course and although the vets found him to recover quickly O'Connor has pulled out of the team competition for Ireland.
Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs and Clooney 51 clearing the beautiful Hachicko oxer. It looked so good for this incredible pair, all the way up to the last two fences that both fell.
Japan's Koki Saito crossing the finish line with five faults while Chilensky prepares himself for yet another buck.
Germany only had one rider in the final: World no. one Daniel Deusser and Killer Queen. Unfortunately, the two finished with two poles down towards the end of the course.
The mental aspect of the Games is tremendous, and not just for the riders. At each Olympics, there are horses that unexpectedly hit the breaks and in the individual final it was Niels Bruynseel's Delux van T&L that said thanks, but no thanks to the intimidating Nihonbashi Bridge and was eliminated.
Portugal's Luciana Diniz and Vertigo du Desert made it all look so easy, but unfortunately had the front pole down on the penultimate oxer.
Canada's veteran Mario Deslauriers knows the name of the game, but this time around three poles fell for him and Bardolina 2.
Despite their very short partnership, Ireland's Darragh Kenny and Cartello finished the demanding course with only two poles down.
Nicolas Delmotte and Urvoso du Roch was France's only competitors in the final, and delivered a lovely round to finish on five faults.
The biggest surprise on the podium was perhaps Maikel van der Vleuten and Beauville Z, who did their first championships for The Netherlands and impressed with two clear rounds and a very fast jump-off which brought them the bronze medal.
Sweden’s Peder Fredricson and the small but mighty All In amazed us all by yet again taking the individual Olympic silver medal, just like in Rio five years ago. Here jumping the Japanese Gong fence.
All eyes on Ben Maher and Explosion W, who came to Tokyo as the favourites for the individual gold and lived up to every single expectation. Great Britain also took the individual gold in Rio five years ago, with Nick Skelton and Big Star topping the final.
Congratulations to the medallists: Gold for Ben Maher, silver for Peder Fredricson and bronze for Maikel van der Vleuten.
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