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"2024 was for sure my most successful year in every single aspect; both in my private life, as well as in the sport,” Germany’s Christian Kukuk tells World of Showjumping about the year that has passed – which saw him become Olympic Champion.

“I have worked hard, but so have many others – and not everyone is able to experience moments like this. I had the right horse with the right experience in the right moment, and I managed to keep myself together and focused – everything came together. You need these special days; no one wins an Olympic gold medal on a normal day,” Christian says.

“In the end, these days have to be made for you. I was in a lucky situation to have Ludger by my side, who had a huge impact on the outcome with all his experience,” Christian points out. “If he had not been there, it probably would not have happened. I just have to be happy and thankful that I was one of the lucky ones to experience this. I know that you don't win an Olympic gold with luck – but you also don't win it without.”

“For sure the Olympics were a goal all along,” Christian recalls about the beginning of 2024. “In January, I started the year in Oliva. I left Checker at home while I was in Oliva, he was having a little break because he had jumped until Geneva the year prior. I took Mumbai and Just Be Gentle with me instead – to get them in shape – and that went very well. After Oliva, I went to the first Nations Cup show of the year with Mumbai; we jumped in Abu Dhabi where the German team won the Nations Cup – a great start to 2024.”

“I then took Checker to Doha at the end of February, and he was placed in every Grand Prix there. All horses felt in very good shape from the beginning of the year, and when I came back to Europe, I was placed in the Rolex Grand Prix at The Dutch Masters. In May, I was part of the German team that came second in the Nations Cup in Mannheim [with Just Be Gentle] and Checker won the LGCT Grand Prix in Madrid. The Grand Prix in Madrid was also one of the highlights of the year; it was an amazing class with an incredible jump-off. While Checker jumped clear in the Nations Cup in Rotterdam in June, Just Be Gentle went on to jump really well in Aachen – she was placed both in the Prize of Europe and in the Rolex Grand Prix. With all horses feeling in great shape, it seemed I even had options for Paris.”

“Eventually I got nominated for the Olympics with Checker, and that was already a highlight as it was a big goal to go to Paris,” Christian continues. “We went there with big expectation for the team, and we had a great start as we won the qualifier with all three horses jumping clear. We knew we were in good shape and I believe we were big favourites for the medals, but we ended up having two really, really unlucky faults in the final and finished fifth which was disappointing for us as a team. We really were fighting for a medal there.”

“However, I still felt that my horse was in very good shape, so I was excited for the individual final,” Christian continues to tell about the magical day in Versailles when he won Olympic gold. “The 6th of August 2024 was the most special day of my life – not only due to the fact that I won an Olympic gold medal, but because I was surrounded by my whole family and my closest friends in that moment. Everyone was there to support me, except my grandma who was cheering on me from at home. To share this moment with those closest to me was really unique. A lot of the time we are alone in this sport, also when we win, therefore I was really, really lucky to experience this and I feel extremely blessed about it. I am so thankful to have these people around me.”

“Having the whole team behind you is always very important; in particular Ludger and my showgroom Sofie have played a huge part in the success we had last year. Also, the support I get from my sister Jenny means everything to me,” Christian tells.

“Another unforgettable moment during the Olympics was in my private life: I found out that my girlfriend Veronica was pregnant, which made the final day even more special,” Christian smiles.

“After the Olympics, I finished second overall in the Longines Global Champions Tour and with our team Riesenbeck International powered by Kingsland we finished second in the Global Champions League so we were very successful there as well,” Christian tells about the last part of 2024. “I had a very good finish to the year in Geneva, placing fourth in my first Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final which was a really exciting class. Overall, there's no doubt that 2024 was the most successful and an incredible year in every single aspect.”

“I'm excited,” Christian says about the new year that has just begun. “All my horses are in a really good age. For sure Checker is now the most experienced of them all and we will try to aim him for some highlights this year. Just Be Gentle is a little bit younger and I'm excited to see how she develops this year. I also have Chageorge, who is turning ten now and it will be interesting to see what he is able to do.”

“I wouldn't say I feel relaxed, but an Olympic year has a certain added pressure to it. After 2024, this year seems a bit easier in that sense,” Christian says. “In 2025, I just want to see how the younger horses step up and then there is always Aachen – as a German rider, it is in your head as a goal for the year.”

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