The Olympic individual final in Versailles unfolded beyond our wildest imagination. To say it was a real rollercoaster ride with some very unexpected twists and turns along the way would be an understatement; who would have ever even thought so much could happen within only thirty horse-and-rider combinations on the start list?
That being said, with only three clear rounds, course designers Santiago Varela (ESP) and Gregory Bodo (FRA) could not have gotten it more right. The two masterminds have done an absolutely outstanding job in Versailles, and as Rodrigo Pessoa said it: “They are Olympic guys, they are the best there is.”
It was a long and tough course: Fifteen fences, nineteen efforts – all stunningly designed for this once-in-a-lifetime occasion of Paris 2024 – were waiting for the riders, and as during the entire week of competition in Versailles, it was full of options. And as everyone started over on a score of zero, it was all to play for as the individual medals were to be decided at Paris 2024.
First out above, one of the queens of Versailles: Caracole de La Roque takes a little look at her kingdom.
All photos © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping. No reproduction of any of the content in this article will be accepted without a written permission, all rights reserved © World of Showjumping.com. If copyright violations occur, a penalty fee will apply.
10/10. These two! Thanks for incredible courses Gregory and Santiago!
Just like in Tokyo, Santiago Varela did an absolutely outstanding job...
...this time sharing his duties with Gregory Bodo.
A legend got the honour of opening the individual final: Pierre Durand –1987 European champion, 1988 Olympic champion and 1990 team world champion with Jappeloup.
Great Britain's Harry Charles had to withdraw Romeo 88 after a small overreach in Monday's qualifier, where the two were clear. Still, he was smiling on the side-line – here with Scott Brash.
Let the action begin...
Canada's Mario Deslauriers and Emerson replaced Harry Charles, and as first in the ring they finished their round on a respectable score of eight faults.
After jumping clear in both team rounds, Germany's Philipp Weishaupt and the wonderful Zineday had to see a pole fall to the ground both in the individual qualifier and in the final.
Argentina's Jose Maria Larocca and Finn Lente picked up 20 penalties.
It was not to be for Great Britain's Ben Maher who came to Versailles to defend his individual title from Tokyo. Like so many others, he had to see the back rail of 5b – the La rue Française-combination – fall to the ground aboard Dallas Vegas Batilly.
USA's Laura Kraut and Baloutinue take a little moment before getting going over the massive course, with fences as tall as 1.65m and as wide as 1.90m. The two were clear all the way to the last fence, were they pulled the back rail.
They were not alone... Austria's Max Kühner and Elektric Blue P also stayed clear all the way to the last LA 2028 oxer at no. 15.
So close, but yet so far... A disappointed Max Kühner leaves the ring...
The French had two riders in the final, one of them Simon Delestre riding I Amelusina R 51. The two had rails on no. 1 and 5b down, to finish on a score of eight.
The first to post a clear were Germany's Christian Kukuk and Checker 47.
Belgium's Gregory Wathelet and Bond Jamesbond de Hay had a proper splash in the water, the Pont La Tournelle.
Maikel van der Vleuten and Beauville Z get underway, with what would be the second clear in the final.
We will for sure see these two in Los Angeles in 2028: The United Arab Emirates' Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi and Enjoy de La Mure have impressed in Versailles, and finished the final on a score of eight faults.
Japan's Takashi Haase Shibayama chose to retire after having rails down with Karamell M & M.
Saudi Arabia's Ramzy Al Duhami and Untouchable 32 had one rail down, on the oxer at 5b.
It was not to be for Brazil's Rodrigo Pessoa and Major Tom. Pessoa, who jumped his 8th Olympics in Versailles, opted to retire after having two rails down.
The hope of a fourth clear round collapsed in this combination for USA's Karl Cook, who had to see both 12a and b of the French card game fall to the ground – with Caracole de La Roque jumping fantastic yet again.
Keep an eye on these two towards LA 2028: Belgium's super-talent Gilles Thomas and the phenomenal stallion Ermitage Kalone did their Olympic debut in Versailles.
After a very scary moment on the oxer at 5b, Norway's Victoria Gulliksen and Mistral van de Vogelzang managed to recover to finish on 13 penalties.
Another pair that fell victim to the oxer at 5b, was Brazil's Stephan de Freitas Barcha and Primavera who finished on a score of four.
This was also the case for Great Britain's Scott Brash and Jefferson, who left Versailles with a team gold in the bag.
It was the second element of the La rue Française-combination at 5ab that caused the most heartbreak, with a distance of 8.10m from the 1.58m upright coming in, to the oxer out – which was measuring 1.55m both in front and in the back, with a width of 1.60m.
Abdulrahman Alrajhi and Ventago finished on a respectable score of six penalties for Saudi Arabia, that had two riders in the final.
For Mexico's Andres Azcarraga and Contendros 2 it ended abruptly as the two parted ways on the open water.
Dutch rider Kim Emmen and Imagine had been clear in the three rounds leading up to the final, but had to see three poles fall to the ground.
Italy's Emanuele Camilli and Odense Odeveld also recorded twelve penalties.
They entered the ring as one of the favourites for the medals...
...but, sadly the line from the open water to the Tour Eiffel at no. 7 and Arc Triomphe at no. 8 did not go according to plan for Henrik von Eckermann. "I got a little bit close to the water, got a high jump on that and I didn’t see the six strides because we landed a little bit steep from the water,” von Eckermann explained. “I really had to get him back on the seven and that made it a short jump and then I had to really go for the five. He is easy to go right, and I followed too much to the right to go with him, and somehow in one second, he went a little bit left, and I lost my balance to the right. And then he got a little bit upset from that, I think he felt that I was not really in balance, and he went little bit left again. I really tried to get him to the right, but then these things there, the start stands behind was there and I couldn’t get him in front of that and I tried to the last, but I couldn’t. And then he turned left – and I went right.”
With the Olympic mascot getting into the mix, the world no. one unfortunately parted ways with his sensitive chestnut gelding.
Luckily, King Edward stayed calm in all the turmoil to quickly get a head-collar on with his rider leading him out on foot.
Our hearts belong to... Dynamix de Belheme! As next in the ring the mare jumped a fantastic clear, and Switzerland's Steve Guerdat was not too bad as her pilot either!
If there was one rider who would have deserved to be clear it was Switzerland's Martin Fuchs. The Swiss rider lost one of his stirrups in the landing coming down from 5b, and could not retain it – jumping the rest of the course without.
Miraculously, he managed to stay clear with only one stirrup, and one shoe less for Leone Jei, all the way until the last LA 2028-oxer...
... where the back rail cruel and undeservedly punished them by falling to the ground.
Like so many others, Harrie Smolders and Uricas v/d Kattevennen had a rail down in the La rue Française-combination.
Ireland's Daniel Coyle also had to manage with one stirrup, but opted to retire Legacy ahead of the last jump. The two had been clear in all their rounds leading up to the final.
Ireland's Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz had three rails down this time around.
The French celebrating the arrival of Julien Epaillard!
Hopes were high for home hero Julien Epaillard who was last to go with Dubai du Cedre after topping the individual qualifier. But, the deck of cards at 12b was not in their favour, and through a loud gasp of disbelief from the crowds a rail fell to the ground. It would be a jump-off of three for the medals, with no French rider in it. Epaillard finished 4th, just outside the medals.
And, as we all know by now, Christian Kukuk and Checker 47 delivered the only double clear to claim gold, while Steve Guerdat and Dynamix de Belheme took silver, and Maikel van der Vleuten and Beauville Z bronze. Visit their respective photo specials for more magic moments from Versailles.
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