Her request to athlete Annika Schleu to use a whip sparked a big debate at the Olympic Games. The choice of words regrets pentathlon national coach Kim Raisner, but she feels the allegations as “too harsh”. She sees problems in the rules of the sport.
After the riding drama about the modern pentathlete Annika Schleu at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, national trainer Kim Raisner vigorously contradicted the allegations of cruelty to animals. “I am far from torturing animals. I love animals, I love horses. We do not thrash our horses,” said the 48-year-old of the German press agency. After her exclusion from the Olympic Games by the world federation, the trainer speaks in an interview about her much criticized statements, the riding regulations in the modern pentathlon and the sometimes violent reactions to the incidents in Tokyo.
How did you experience the scenes in the competition, does your perception match the image that is being drawn in public?
It’s a cutout. Annika came to the warm-up area very relaxed, hoping that she could swap horses. But according to the regulations, we didn’t have a chance. This only works if a rider falls down twice or the horse refuses four times. So Annika had to get up and ride this horse. Then everything was great during the ride, horse and rider trusted each other. The owner of the horse was also there and gave us tips. When Annika tried to ride out, the horse did not move forward. Up until then she had had a great competition, had a big lead and is very good in the laser run. With a halfway normal ride she would still have had a chance of a medal or a very good placement.
What was going through your head?
At that moment I only thought that she has to get out of this corner and get the horse going, then there is a chance that she will still make it. But the horse didn’t want to. Annika noticed that and there was just desperation. Of course I ask that, as a rider, she use the opportunities that she has and, with the help that is there, try to get the horse out of this corner. Of course you are emotional there, including me. Now one can argue about whether the choice of words was correct or whether it was too harsh. If you want to ride a horse forward, you have to let go of the reins, which Annika did, and hit the back of it. But you don’t beat your horse with that. It was a whip use.
What do you think of the allegations of animal welfare endangerment and animal cruelty that were made afterwards?
I find it too hard. The horse did not want to, we have already seen that with the pioneer. Of course I would have liked to swap horses. One can ask oneself whether this should also be included in the regulations that, as the second rider to whom this happens, one can then take another horse so that the athlete has the chance to prove her riding skills. But that doesn’t help Annika any more, the regulations don’t give them away.
In retrospect, do you regret the choice of words and would you have expected this statement to trigger such reactions?
Yes, in retrospect you might say that it was too harsh. I know that slap on the backside, too, that didn’t have to be, but it wasn’t great. The horse almost kicked the people who opened the gate because it kicked backwards. And then it came up to me. But that it is now presented in such a way that horses are generally treated that way, that is not true. I am far from torturing animals. I love animals, I love horses, just like Annika. We don’t beat up our horses.
Was it the exceptional situation that made you act like this?
Of course that was also emotional. When you see what a chance you have that you don’t want to miss. Of course one is also ambitious there.
How did you find out that you were banned from the games?
There was only this press release from the world association.
What reactions have you got now and how do you deal with them?
It actually hit Annika, who received messages on Instagram, really badly. That goes from bitch to animal tormentor. I got messages like “You have to be beaten” and all that. Those are attacks. There are also expressions like bitch, that’s not nice to read.
In your opinion, should you have acted differently in the competition, should the horse not have been allowed to compete?
The course was ok, the quality of the horses was good. If a horse crashes into an obstacle twice, the horse can naturally say, it hurt me so much, I won’t jump anymore. I know that this leads to discussions again and again, on a strange horse, but that is what this sport brings with it, that is what defines our sport. At the Olympics, the whole world is watching and then an entire sport is judged very quickly.
TO PERSON: Kim Raisner (48) has been national coach at the German Association for Modern Pentathlon since 2006. The former modern pentathlete from Berlin was twice European champion during her active career and fifth at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
