After two Olympic Games, two World Championships and three Pan Am Games for Colombia, Daniel Bluman has decided to represent Israel from 2017.

The successful 26-year-old rider details his decision saying; "I have been thinking for a long time to be part of Team Israel. Much of my family is Israeli and I strongly feel for the country and what it means to me and my loved ones. Both Colombia and Israel have great meaning in my life. For the past 12 years I have represented Colombia internationally with great success and pride. It has been an honour to be part of Team Colombia during these very successful years. We have had the privilege of having a great federation led by Cesar Camargo who has been very supportive and committed to Equestrian Sports in Colombia. We were also very lucky to have Marcel Delestre as our Chef d'Equipe for a few years. Under his lead, Colombia had the greatest results it ever had internationally. Cesar is stepping down as president in the next few months and Marcel's contract as Colombia’s Chef d'Equipe also comes to an end. Meanwhile, Team Israel is putting on a strong project together for the future with fantastic and committed people and invited me to be part of it. With the Olympic Games in mind and the idea of making equestrian sports bigger in Israel, we are now putting together a strong group to make Team Israel successful on the international scene. The time is right and although this decision was hard to make, I am confident it is the right decision. I will remain proud to be Colombian just like I was proud of being Israeli when I was competing for Colombia.”

Source: Press release // Picture © Jenny Abrahamsson