The 13th edition of the FEI Awards was celebrated in Antwerp, Belgium, last night. This year’s celebration also included the winners of the FEI Awards in 2020, which was celebrated virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sweden's Peder Fredricson took the Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete Award, adding to his already impressive trophy cabinet of Olympic and European Championship medals, as well as his number one spot on the Longines Ranking that he took in October 2021 for the first time in his career.

Along with winning individual silver at the Tokyo Olympic Games in August, Fredricson's outstanding performances helped Sweden to its first Olympic team gold medal in jumping in almost 100 years. The medal marked 29 years since Peder Fredricson made his Olympic debut at the age of 20 at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games, when he was an accomplished eventer and the youngest-ever Olympic equestrian athlete for Sweden.

The now 49-year-old, who was unable to attend the gala dinner in person, thanked sponsor Peden Bloodstock’s Managing Director Martin Atock and everyone who voted for him in a video address.

“I’m really proud and grateful for the Peden Best Athlete Award. It means a lot to me, my team, and all my owners,” Fredricson said. “Thank you very much to the FEI, to Longines for the beautiful watch and also to Peden Bloodstock for supporting the Award. I would like to thank all the people who voted for me too. I’m also very excited to be number one in the Longines Rankings. It’s a goal I’ve had for a couple of years."

“I always try to do my best and improve myself, my team and the horses, rather than beat anyone else. We all work really hard to keep the horses fit and healthy, to achieve these goals and win many medals along the way. I’m also very grateful to my horse owners who stand by me and provide me this good string of horses. Thank you very much!”

Click here to read the full press release from the FEI on the FEI Awards 2021.