Germany names likely eventing team for Rio Olympics: Ostholt to make Olympic debut

Update: the team below was confirmed on Saturday, 15 July at a press conference in Aachen, where FischerTakinou was named as Michael’s ride and Julia Krajewski and Samourai Du Thot were chosen as the travelling reserves. Dirk Schrade and Hop And Skip are the second reserves. 

The Germans have released a “long list” for their eventing team for the Rio Olympics, which names their likely team and reserves.

Team trainer Christopher Bartle confirmed to H&H that the final squad is subject to confirmation after Aachen (15-16 July), but that the four riders named first are the likely team, with the reserves then named in two blocks indicating their current priority order.

The likely team is:

• Sandra Auffarth on Opgun Louvo (pictured)
• Michael Jung on FischerRocana FST, FischerTakinou or La Biosthetique-Sam FBW
• Ingrid Klimke on Horseware Hale Bob OLD
• Andreas Ostholt on So Is Et

Assuming this team is eventually named for Rio, Badminton runner-up Andreas will be making his Olympic debut alongside three riders from the London 2012 gold medal-winning team. Ingrid also won team gold in 2008 in Hong Kong, where Andreas’ brother Frank rode on the team.

The first block of likely reserves is:

• Bettina Hoy on Designer 10
• Julia Krajewski on Samourai Du Thot
• Dirk Schrade on Hop And Skip

The second block of likely reserves is:

• Claas Hermann Romeike on Cato 60
• Andreas Dibowski on It’s Me xx

Claas Hermann’s father Hinrich was the 2008 individual Olympic champion on Marius Voigt-Logistik.

The four riders named as the likely team will compete in Aachen, with Michael piloting FischerTakinou and La Biosthetique-Sam FBW. In addition, Bettina will compete on Designer 10 and Seigneur Medicott, who missed his run in the CCI4* at Luhmühlen after suffering bruises and superficial cuts when he got loose while grazing and slipped over galloping back to the stables.

As well as “Bobby”, Ingrid will start at Aachen on FRH Escada SAP, who is not in the running for Rio as she is not at full fitness after an injury earlier in the year.

Julia Krajewski will perform the guinea pig test at Aachen on Samourai Du Thot.

Continued below…

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“I’m delighted with how the weekend went,” said Christopher, looking back at Luhmühlen. “I’m particularly chuffed for Andreas Dibowski [who won the CCI4*]— he performed fantastically from beginning to end on It’s Me after the disappointment of losing the horse he had on the Olympic list [FRH Butts Avedon, due to injury]. He came back with a bang.

“Julia Krajewski [third] was equally impressive and really came to the fore, not just for the German squad but as a new name on the block.

“It was also great to see Sandra and Ingrid on form, as well as Dirk and Bettina.”

Full report of Luhmühlen in H&H this week, out 23 June.

Pippa Roome

H&H magazine editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.