Swedish dressage Olympian Jan Brink, 48, has retired from the national dressage team after 20 years.
He made the World Cup final in Las Vegas in April his major championship swan song with triple Olympic ride Björsells Briar 899 — his partner of 10 years — and has now bowed out of international competition.
“I am the kind of person who goes for all or nothing,” said Brink. “I was considering doing the 2010 World Equestrian Games, but then you are half way into an Olympic cycle and I thought I might as well stop now. I feel very content with the career I have had.”
Brink told the Swedish Olympic Committee last year that he would not aim for another Olympics.
“I said after Hong Kong I would take one year at a time. I have given it thought, and now made the decision in agreement with the team management and my horse owners,” but he added: “This does not mean that I stop competing. I will compete as much, or more, in Sweden in order to produce younger horses.”
Brink built his business producing young stallions, in partnership with Rolf Göran Bengtsson.
He has accumulated more international championship medals than any countryman — seven — with three different horses — Kleber Martini, Björsells Fontana and Björsells Briar, including individual European silver in 2003. He has won 32 international grands prix.
He will continue on coaching his students, including former team mate and partner Minna Telde and protégé Sarah Henrietta Källström. Brink remains at his training centre and stallion station in Tullstorp, Sweden, with wife Catharina.
He has two approved stallions approaching grand prix level — Briar’s son, Biggles 1015, and brother, Okeanos 1097.
“In the near future I will continue competing them in Sweden, later they will be placed with other riders, either through a sale or contacts,” said Brink.
