TOKYO OLYMPICS
Published 08.08.2021
The Tokyo Olympics have come to an end. Congratulations to individual gold medalists Ben Maher, silver medalist Peder Fredricson and bronze medalist Maikel van der Vleuten. Also, congrats to team Sweden for an incredible team victory. Team US for taking silver and team Belgium for taking the bronze medal.
Unfortunately, Edwina faced a rocky start to the Games, waiting to learn whether she and the Australian rider Katie Laurie could compete individually after Australia's jumping team was broken up just days before the games. Luckily they were both permitted to compete individually.
The individual qualification showed to be a roller-coaster ride build by Spain's Santiago Varela, counting fourteen jumps and seventeen efforts set at 1m65. With only 30 best of the 73 riders moving forward to the final, it turned out to be a real challenge where one pole meant it was game over. Unfortunately, Edwina and Identity Vitseroel had one unlucky fault to finish just outside the top 30. Despite this, Edwina was delighted with the way Identity performed:
"I'm very happy with the way Identity jumped. Unfortunately, we just missed out on the final like a lot of other good combinations, but that's the way the format was. Congratulations to all the amazing riders for their fantastic performances."
The 4-times Olympian is full of gratitude for the support before and during the games.
"It's been such a long road to get to Tokyo with so much work and effort from all different sides. I would like to thank the Australian Equestrian team for all the professional help, the Stal Tops team, my husband Jan, who made this all happen for me and most of all, the amazing horses that give all of us so much pleasure and joy.
A big thanks to the FEI for allowing Katie and myself to ride, considering the circumstances. Congratulations to Sweden, the USA and Belgium for putting in an incredible performance in the team competition, and to Ben Maher and Explosion, who once again proved their unbelievable capacity. Also, well done to our incredible Eventing team, who received a Silver medal, and Andrew for winning bronze individually. Hopefully, Paris will be my next Olympics!! "
The next stop for Edwina is the LGCT London next week.