Steve Guerdat has announced that his individual Olympic champion at the London Games in 2012 and 4th four years later in Rio, Nino des Buissonnets, will be retired from the sport. A real legend of showjumping with his own special character and style, he will bid farewell to the public at CHI Geneva on Sunday, 11 December, after his last round with Steve Guerdat. 

“He deserves the chance to call it a day at Palexpo, in top form. I've thought long and hard about it since the Rio Games and I have no doubts about my decision: Nino des Buissonnets will take his final bow at Geneva on 11th December. I said back in Rio that Nino wouldn't be taking part in any more important championships, just in a few more shows. He'll be 16 soon, and competing at that age has its risks, risks that I 'd rather not take as I so much want him to finish on a high note. He deserves the right to quit at the top of his form, at the end of a great season, in the so-special Palexpo arena. It's the right time and place to stop", shares Steve Guerdat. 

The Olympic champion and double World Cup holder plans to ride Nino des Buissonnets on Sunday 11th December in the Rolex Grand Prix – a round of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping – which he has already won twice with Nino, in 2013 and in 2015. So, his goodbyes are not appropriate before, but they will come at the end of this prestigious competition, in the presence of his owner, Urs E. Schwarzenbach, his team, his stable staff and his friends.

Foaled in northern France at the Deroubaix farm, Nino was sired by the famous stallion Kannan out of Hermine du Prelet (by Narcos II). In six years of working with Steve Guerdat, #FlyingNino – this brilliant horse with a strong and tenacious spirit – has become a legend. This ace, who is an angel in the stables but often a real "fury" in the arena, took gold at the London Olympics and was 4th at the Rio Games. He twice came second in the World Cup finals (2012 and 2013), prior to being 5th in 2014, and has won many prestigious Grands Prix such as Rio de Janeiro and Geneva (each twice), La Baule and Helsinki. 

His consistency in the Grand Prix and the Nations Cups has been impressive, with far more clear rounds than faults. Nino des Buissonnets has already taken part five times in the Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva, finishing 4th, 9th, 1st, 20th and 1st successively. And in a total of eight rounds at this flagship event, only once – in 2014 – did he bring down a single bar. A formidable consistency. A formidable "personality too", a real star, who will be honoured on 11th December by the public he has thrilled so consistently.

Source: Press release from CHI Geneva // Picture © Jenny Abrahamsson