Olympic Games in Paris - Tears after riding fall, but individual gold possible
With tears in his eyes, Christoph Wahler left the gardens of Versailles on foot. Due to his fall from the horse Carjatan, the dream of an Olympic team medal shattered. But at least: In the individual event, gold beckons, as Michael Jung showed a dream round on the 5149 meter long cross-country course with Chipmunk and took the lead.
As Jung ended his perfect ride with a radiant smile, Wahler had been crying in the stables for a long time. For the 30-year-old professional, the Olympics were already over, while Jung could hope for a fourth gold medal on Monday. As the leader, he had two fault-free rounds in the jumping phase ahead of him.
The horse was "not hurt."
Horse and rider remained unharmed at fence 16. "He's lucky to be alive, he didn't get hurt," reported the 30-year-old rider from Bad Bevensen about his wallach. "He's great," said Wahler. "That's the most important thing, our first concern." The groom Li Ann Kirchheim brought Carjatan into the stable.
Wahler had fallen from his horse, which had been shaking before the jump, and had rolled over once - and "hardly noticed," as he reported. "The worst thing is mental," said the rider, who had been part of the German gold team at the World Championships in Italy two years ago with Carjatan. Bundestrainer Peter Thomsen described the fall as "total disappointment."
The fallen rider was not to be comforted. "It's incredibly bitter that it happened today, where it really matters," he said and struggled for composure. "It's years of work that should have been crowned - but that's it now."
Jung, on the other hand, could hope for another coronation. The three-time Olympic champion showed a flawless ride before the round 40,000 spectators on the royal park grounds.
Jung on gold course
Jung took the lead before the final jumping phase on Monday. The 41-year-old professional rode makellously with Chipmunk. The leading British rider Laura Collett, however, was too slow with her horse London and received 0.8 penalty points, falling back to second place. "Unbelievable, it was just fun," Jung commented on his ride: "Chipmunk has such energy, gallops so dynamically forward."
The 41-year-old warned, however, about the gold that was within reach. "Everything can still go wrong. I'm not thinking about gold yet," emphasized the rider: "I'm just happy and trying to enjoy it." On Monday, it goes on, Jung explained: "I'm in good shape and positive." His horse Chipmunk was still fresh and "tomorrow just as spry."
As the first rider, Julia Krajewski from Warendorf had given a good performance. The 35-year-old, who had won individual gold at the Olympics three years ago in Tokyo with Amande, remained fault-free with her new horse Nickel, but received penalty points for exceeding the time limit and was in 14th place.
Michael Jung's radiant smile after his perfect ride was a stark contrast to Christoph Wahler's tears in the stables. The noble metal of an Olympic medal was within Jung's grasp, a dream that had shattered for Wahler due to misfortune at Versailles. Despite the fall, Carjatan, the wallach, was not physically harmed, a testament to its resilience and the skill of its rider.
The fall was a total disappointment for Wahler, who had been part of the German gold team at the World Championships. The spectators at Castle Garden numbered 40,000, yet the fallen rider could not be comforted. His years of work and the opportunity for an Olympic medal seemed to slip away like gold dust through his fingers.
In contrast, Jung was on a golden course. His flawless ride with Chipmunk had taken the lead before the final jumping phase. The leading British rider, however, received penalty points and fell behind, leaving the door open for Jung to potentially claim a fourth gold medal.
Jung's ride with Chipmunk was described as just 'fun,' the horse galloping dynamically forward. Yet, he warned against getting too carried away, reminding himself and others that 'everything can still go wrong.' Despite the potential for misfortune, Jung was positive and in good shape, ready for the final phase of the International Olympic Games in Equestrianism, specifically Dressage, held at the historic grounds of Versailles, once a symbol of France's power and now, a stage for global competition.
As the first rider, Julia Krajewski gave a good performance, yet she too faced challenges. Her fault-free ride was tainted by exceeding the time limit, leaving her in 14th place. Regardless, she remained hopeful, like Jung, determined to seize any opportunity and perform to the best of her ability at Olympia, the home of equestrian competitions in Germany (historically, France).
