The medal suppliers of German sport are facing their final test. Two of the three candidates are worried about qualifying.
Only two of the three German show jumpers are in the Olympic individual final on Tuesday. But it was a nail-biter before Philipp Weishaupt with Zineday and Christian Kukuk with Checker made it through the qualification. Because only the 30 best of 74 pairs are allowed to start in the medal fight.
“We would have preferred it if all three had been there,” said national coach Otto Becker, commenting on Richard Vogel’s exit with United Touch. “We now have two irons in the fire, but we also have to ride a clean sheet if we want to get on the podium.” None of the trio managed that in the qualification. That’s why it wasn’t immediately certain that Weishaupt and Kukuk would make it to the final.
Starting rider makes a mistake
As in the team competitions, Christian Kukuk was the starting leader of the German team. And as in the team final, which ended in fifth place, the 34-year-old from Riesenbeck and his horse had four penalty points. “I had previously imagined two scenarios. There was the option of riding zero and having a great starting position in the final, or I make a careless mistake and still have a chance because I am among the fastest foursome – that is what happened now.”
“It was a bit too hectic”
Richard Vogel had a bitter Olympic farewell. The 27-year-old from Marburg received twelve penalty points with United Touch and missed the final by a wide margin. After the first knockdown, Vogel came under pressure. “A quick decision had to be made,” commented the debutant. He had to pick up the pace, but two more knockdowns followed. “It was a bit too hectic, the decision was made too quickly,” said the rider. He “lacked the necessary calm to complete the jumps without making any mistakes at that speed.”
Philipp Weishaupt was the last German rider with Zineday to receive four penalty points, just like his stable colleague Kukuk, but he didn’t have to wait quite as long to qualify for the final as the 30th and last rider. “That’s fine,” commented the 39-year-old from Riesenbeck on the razor-thin decision.
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
