‘There’s still a long way to go’: Sweden has three riders through to Olympic showjumping individual jump-off

The first clear round in the Olympic showjumping individual final at the Tokyo Games has come from Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann riding King Edward but he will be joined in a jump-off by his two team-mates as both Malin Baryard-Johnsson jumped clear with Indiana and Peder Fredricson (All In) followed up.

Santiago Varela’s beefy course had proved a really stiff test that befits the Olympic showjumping final and the first eight riders from the 30 who qualified all faulted or exceeded the time allowed. However the 40-year-old Henrik battled hard and his 11-year-old gelding showed immense scope and athleticism to come home as the first clear of the evening.

“I’m only qualified for the jump off and there’s a long way to go still. But the horse feels amazing,” said Henrik. “He’s in really good shape and I tried to do my best and concentrate on my riding. I hope it’s going to be a good ending.

“The course starts nicely. And then, the section with the walls is okay, but the triple combination is of course difficult,” added Henrik, who is competing at his third Olympic Games, after appearances at London in 2012 and Rio in 2016.

“It’s a very tall vertical in the middle – you have to be very quiet, but still get out of the combination. So it’s a little bit of a mind game.”

The second clear in the Olympic showjumping individual final came from Japan’s Daisuke Fukushima on Chanyon, setting up a jump-off to decide the medals that looks set to be a thriller.

* More updates to come throughout the final on HorseandHound.co.uk

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Jennifer Donald

H&H showjumping editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.