Krajewski, McEwen and Hoy take the Individual Eventing medals

Mdmar – Tokyo – by FEI Media

Photo – FEI

Julia Krajewski has become the first-ever female Olympic Eventing champion after a thrilling competition at Tokyo 2020.

With Amande De B’neville, 32-year-old Krajewski of Germany had taken the lead in the competition during Monday’s qualifier and then went clear in the Individual final, adding a minimal time penalty.

It was a third consecutive win for Germany in the event following Michael Jung’s triumphs in 2012 and 2016.

Silver went to Tom McEwen of Great Britain, with Australia’s 62-year-old Andrew Hoy completing a superb competition with bronze in his eighth Games.

Japan’s Kazuma Tomoto finished just outside of the medals in fourth, with GB’s Oliver Townend in fifth after leading at the end of the first two phases.

Krajewski said: “Well, I’m super, super proud of my horse. I’m relieved and happy that I made it happen. I’m very thankful for everyone who has been with me all the way. I won my first pony European title 20 years ago. And since then it’s been a roller coaster really. And it’s quite unreal.

“I certainly was surprised that I was still in fifth after dressage. I thought I would be a bit more behind. And then I said to my showjumping coach, ‘If I bring this home (in the showjumping), I’m going to win a medal.’ Because in the end, it’s all about numbers in Eventing.

“Cross-country went super good. It was quite good for me that I went early (in the day), because I couldn’t watch too much. I just did my thing. And after cross-country, I was fairly positive that we could finish well, because she’s such a good jumper. And I thought, ‘OK, if it goes wrong, it’s all in your hands.’ And before we went in, and I said, ‘Mandy we’re going to get it,’ and I think she knew it was a special day.”

Here’s how Julia did it…

Twenty-five horse and rider combinations qualified for the Individual finals after a previous round of jumping earlier in the evening.

There’s no doubt many of the mounts were fatigued by the last round of competition, having survived the dressage and cross-country legs, as well as the heat and humidity of the Japanese summer.

Santiago Varela Ullastres’ colourful course in the Baji Koen Equestrian Park arena had to be completed in under a minute, and all but a few riders struggled with the time and the daunting cherry blossom triple combination. It wasn’t until the top 10 that anyone rode clear, when an ecstatic Nicolas Touzaint of France and Absolut Gold turned in a perfect round, having also jumped clear in the qualifying event.

Touzaint’s score of 33.9 momentarily became the one to beat, but it didn’t last long.

Kazu impresses

Following rides by Jonelle Price of New Zealand (41.90 points) and double gold medallist Michael Jung of Germany (36.1) points, Japan’s Kazuma Tomoto moved to the top of the leaderboard, with just 0.4 points for time and a score of 31.9.

With only six riders left to go, Tomoto was suddenly well within reach of the podium, and the excitement was ratcheted up another level.

Next up, Christopher Six of France and Totem De Brecey picked up 4.0 points, giving them a total of 35.2 points. It put them in third for the moment, but the medals were still far from decided.

Laura Collett of Great Britain and London 52 were next in the ring, having hovered in the top handful of riders all week and been on the gold medal winning team hours earlier. It wasn’t to be their day, though, with the last two fences down, and the pair would have to settle for 37.8 points and no chance at an Individual medal.

Andrew Hoy and Vassily De Lassos next put down a huge round, finishing clear and crossing the beam just inside the time. The pressure was on the final three riders, with Hoy sitting on 29.6 points and moving into the lead, the only rider of the entire Olympic competition to finish on just his dressage score.

McEwen excels

Great Britain’s Tom McEwen was certainly feeling the tension, as he and Toledo De Kerser had their turn around the course, everything hanging on one rail. Moving effortlessly through the troublesome triple, the combo picked up only 0.4 points for time, ending on 29.3 points and guaranteeing themselves at least a bronze.

World No.1 Oliver Townend was up next, part of the Team gold medal group, along with McEwen and Collett. It wasn’t to be for him and Ballaghmor Class, however. An early rail cost them dearly landing them just off the podium with 4.80 penalty points and an overall score of 32.4 points.

Julia makes history

Even had there been an enormous crowd in the stands for Julia Krajewski’s final ride, there would have been nervous silence, with all the medals waiting on her results. In a discipline where women have dominated all the other major championships, no female had ever won Olympic gold.

Guiding Amande De B’neville expertly around the course, the duo added only 0.4 time points to their score of 25.6 carried over from previous legs, to end on a glorious 26.0 points and the gold medal.

When all the points were tallied, Tomoto finished fourth, a tremendous accomplishment for Japan, followed by Townend, Touzaint, Six, Jung, Collett, and Shane Rose of Australia in the top 10.

This year’s Eventing competition was surely one for the record books. There’s still more equestrian action to come, with Jumping starting on Tuesday. Don’t miss a beat with all the thrills on FEI.org.

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