‘I dreamed to be a show jumper, but I was afraid’: Powerful Final Episode of ‘Rising Above’ Featuring Niels Bruynseels

Longines presents Rising Above: Episode 8 – Niels Bruynseels, Overcoming Fears

Longines Global Champions Tour, is excited to unveil the eighth and final episode of season one of Rising Above series presented by Longines, titled “Overcoming Fears.” This inspiring installment focuses on the remarkable journey of Belgian show jumper Niels Bruynseels, who faced his fears head-on to pursue his dream.

“Embrace fear like a wild horse. Tame it, and it shall carry you to conquer all obstacles,” Niels starts the episode, opening up about his initial fear of horses and how he transformed that fear into a driving force. Growing up feeling small next to the towering animals, Niels admits, “I dreamed to be a show jumper, but I was afraid for it. They are so huge, they are big. I feel really small next to the horse.”

Through perseverance, training, and a key decision at 15, he made his competitive debut and never looked back. Niels explains his story that so many will be able to relate to: “I found some really good friends that were also show jumping. We trained together, and soon I started to like it. And it was my final shot to decide, either hop on the saddle and start competing, or quit and give up riding forever.”

“The moment that I made the step when I was 15, I did my first competition. And then actually it started everything. It was just a dream. I had a lot of training sessions with tears and sweat, but I always wanted to reach my goal. Just when I have a really small feeling that I could reach it, I took the risk.”

The episode showcases Bruynseels’ courageous leap into the world of show jumping, overcoming doubts and turning a childhood dream into a professional reality. “If you are afraid and you have a goal, you want to achieve something, just trust yourself,” he says, offering a message of empowerment for all viewers. “You are stronger than you think. You have to believe really in yourself and go for it.”

Season one of the Rising Above presented by Longines series has been a captivating exploration of the personal journeys of elite equestrian athletes, offering a glimpse into their struggles and triumphs. Watch Niels Bruynseels’ story on the Longines Global Champions Tour YouTube for free and discover how facing fear head-on can lead to greatness.

As the Rising Above series concludes its thrilling first season with this powerful episode, fans can anticipate even more inspirational stories in the coming year. This isn’t the end – it’s just the beginning. Stay tuned for Season 2 in 2025, where new journeys and extraordinary stories will once again rise above the challenges to reach greatness.

“mdmar” website for horse races and equestrian News

The “Mdmar” website for horse and equestrian races is keen to cover and follow all competitions related to horses, from show jumping, Horseracing, speed and endurance races, and purebred Arabian horse beauty shows, which belong to the Arab Gulf countries at home and abroad in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Kingdom of Bahrain.