As the only country on a score of zero, Germany topped Thursday’s Olympic team qualifier in Versailles where the ten best nations secured themselves a spot in Friday’s final. USA followed in second on six penalties, and Great Britain in third on eight faults – the same score as Belgium and the Netherlands in fourth and fifth.
On a day of mixed fortunes, Ireland, France, Sweden, Israel and Mexico were the last five countries to make it into Friday's team final, where all nations start with a clean slate. Surprisingly, Switzerland – a favourite for the medals – was one of the teams missing out after an uncharacteristic score of 24 faults collected by Steve Guerdat who had two rails down, Pius Schwizer with three and Martin Fuchs with one pole hitting the sand.
With this photo special, we look back at the Olympic team qualifier where reigning Olympic team champions Sweden got off to a strong start with a clear round from world no. one Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward. “He is a genius of a horse” von Eckermann said after his round. “He is very, very careful. For example, if you see to number two, I was a little bit too deep to the oxer, so he went really high and then he froze a little bit from it because he is very careful. If I wouldn’t have that trust that we work with, you know, it would be a disaster. But we know each other, and he knows I support him and it’s a fantastic feeling.”
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.
It is full of showjumping legends in Versailles: Brazil's Rodrigo Pessoa with his father Nelson...
...Captain Canada Ian Millar...
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...and Hugo Simon.
USA's Kent Farrington already had his white breeches on, but had to watch the team qualifier from the side-line. "There is a small question mark with Greya, which is allergy related, and erring on the side of extreme caution and with the no drop score in the format, we have made the decision to bring in Karl Cook and Caracole de La Roque," Chef d'Equipe Robert Ridland said about the American pre-competition change.
Almost clear... Mexico's Carlos Hank Guerreiro and Porthos Maestro WH Z were one of many that agonisingly had the plank at 13b down.
Sweden's Henrik von Eckermann was the first rider to celebrate a clear round with the incredible King Edward.
Stunning course decorations in Versailles.
Great Britain's reigning Olympic champion Ben Maher and Dallas Vegas Batilly were the second pair to post a clear in the team qualifier. "That was perfect, that was a great start," Maher said.
Christian Kukuk got the German team off to the best possible start with a clear round aboard Checker 47. "All the strides I was planning, I got there in the end, every corner went like I wanted, everything worked out – and he is just in shape, like he has been in the last twelve months," Kukuk said about Checker.
Israel's Ashlee Bond and Donatello 141 had a single rail down on 5a, part of the pretty, pink Gastronomie sucreé combination.
Boss lady! Laura Kraut was the pathfinder for USA and delivered a convincing clear with Baloutinue. "Balou is everything you want in a horse that you take to the Olympic Games and I had complete faith in him today," Kraut said.
Maikel van der Vleuten and Beauville Z posted one of two clear rounds for the Dutch team.
Brazil's pathfinders Pedro Veniss and his wonderful Nimrod de Muze delivered a clear round...
...but the Brazilian celebrations did not last long as a Ground Jury-elimination of Veniss – referring to the FEI Jumping Rules art. 241.3.30 (blood on the horse’s flank) – dropped them out of contention. This particular elimination will surely cause new discussions about the proportionality of the rule and how it is being applied.
A few macarons from the Gastronomie sucreé combination....
...had to be put back on the cake stand.
Where he belongs...
...Ermitage Kalone...
...jumping clear at the Olympic Games 2024 with Belgium's Gilles Thomas, one of the most talented riders on the circuit. "He is very cool in his head, he is not spooky at all, but we are both young and inexperienced," Thomas said after his round.
The face you pull when you have one rail down towards the end of the course... Spain's Sergio Alvarez Moya had to see one pole fall on 13a, coming into the triple combination.
Mexico's Federico Fernandez thanking Romeo after a single rail down on the Horloge d’Orsay upright.
Then