German rider Christian Ahlmann has today announced that his 11-year-old Zangersheide stallion Dominator 2000 Z (Diamant de Semilly x Cassini I) will not be available for Olympic selection. Ahlmann and Dominator 2000 Z were one of the pairs listed in the German A-team ahead of this season. 

In his announcement, Ahlmann explains that the stallion will not be fit to compete in Tokyo – which would have been the fifth Olympics for Ahlmann, who has been a part of the German team in Athens in 2004, Beijing in 2008, London in 2012 and Rio de Janeiro in 2016. 

On his official Instagram account, Ahlmann writes: "Sadly no Olympics for us! My feeling in Valkenswaard and the following clinical examinations have proved that Domi now needs a few easier weeks in order to minimize the risk of a more serious injury. It is a shame, but it is more important that Domi recovers well and then we will be able to go for other goals. I wish the German team the best of luck; may they be fit to compete and come home from Tokyo with the best possible results."

Ahlmann and Dominator 2000 Z have been a force to reckon with; they started the year by winning the CSI5* 1.60m Grand Prix in Doha, while in 2020 the pair placed second in the CSI5* 1.60m World Cup in Leipzig and the CSI5* 1.60m World Cup in Madrid.