OLYMPIC records were broken across the board in the eventing competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, when Britain won a record fifth team gold medal and Germany’s Michael Jung became the first event rider to be crowned the Olympic champion on three occasions.

The stadium at the fabulous Château de Versailles was packed to capacity, with 16,300 screaming fans for an exciting final day at the venue, which delivered in spades on all three days of the competition. “Better than London”, were some of the comments from the Olympians who experienced both.

The French crowd chanted “Allez les Bleus” when their team collected their silver medal behind Britain. After initially looking like it would be a close shoot out between the two, Britain eventually pulled away again in the show jumping, when the French failed to jump a clear round, and won with 12.3 penalties to spare.

Japanese magic

However, the story of eventing belonged to Japan. Fifth after the dressage competition, they climbed to third after cross-country with two riders clear inside the time, but disaster struck on Monday morning when, at the second horse inspection, Ryuzo Kitajima’s horse Cekatinka was withdrawn after being sent to the hold box. That meant Toshiyuki Tanaka (Jefferson) was substituted into the team and they were handed 20 penalties. It looked like the end of their dream of an Olympic medal.

However, Tanaka, Kazuma Tomoto (Vinci de la Vinge) and Yoshiaki Oiwa (MGH Grafton Street (ISH)) all jumped clear over the fences, adding just a total of two time penalties to their score, finishing on a team total of 115.80 and climbing back up the placings, outshining Belgium and Switzerland, for place on the podium.

“For many years, this was a dream,” said Oiwa who, mounted on the Martin J Collins-bred MGH Grafton Street (OBOS Quality), is based with Pippa Funnell in England. “We had the Tokyo Olympics and then we didn’t make it and then we tried once more here and finally it happened. All the riders are more than 10 years staying in Europe, this is a lot of work for riders, and sacrifice. Our kids and family stayed in Japan and we had a proper system to train in the UK.”

The riders, who were all previously show jumpers but got a team together almost 12 years ago with the goal of medalling at their home Games in Tokyo, now expect to go back to Japan on the Japanese Federation’s wish. Tomoto, who has been based with William Fox-Pitt in England for the last seven years, leaving his wife and family at home, commented: “I really, really want to carry on to the Los Angeles Olympics, but I’m not sure if my Japanese boss said you’re finished coming back!”

French pressure

France were in third place after the first phase behind leaders Britain and Germany in second, but climbed to the silver medal position after a dramatic cross-country day, which saw Germany’s chances at a medal ended when Christophe Wahler had a fall on course. That meant they had to carry 200 penalties for a cross-country non-completion, so they eventually finished 14th of the 16 teams.

For France, it was a magical day across country, with nearly 50,000 fans cheering them on the whole way around. Karim Florent Laghouag, with Triton Fontaine, was one of 10 combinations to go clear inside the time, despite a scary moment in the woods, when the gelding slipped. That, added to Stephane Landois’ (Chaman Dumontceau) 2.80 time faults, and Nicolas Touzaint’s (Diabolo Menthe) 3.20 penalties, made sure they stayed close to Britain.

On the final day over the show jumping fences, single errors from Florent Laghouag and Landois had to be added to the eight collected by Touzaint, so the French piled on 16.40 penalties for a finishing score of 103.60.

That was enough to secure the silver. On what it means to get a medal in his own country, Florent Laghouag, who was one of the great characters at the Games, said: “It’s a great symbol, because we were a bit afraid we weren’t going to get the medal and we’re in our home country, so there’s a lot of pressure to get it. We’re super pleased to have at least silver.”

On having the medal around his neck, Landois, who finished best of the French individually in ninth, added: “I never thought I would get this today, so this is absolutely wonderful. It’s a bit heavy, but it’s gorgeous. I’m just really pleased, very happy, I can’t really realise what has happened yet and very grateful.”

British domination

For Britain, they came in as overwhelming favourites to defend the gold medal they won in Tokyo three years earlier. Laura Collett (London 52) and Tom McEwen (JL Dublin) were part of that team in Tokyo, but Ros Canter (Lordships Graffalo) was the reserve on that occasion and never got to stand on the podium.

The pressure was heaped on the favourites, but they delivered in spades. In the dressage phase, Britain delivered the record team score of 66.70 at an Olympic Games, helped by Collett’s all-time best dressage score of 17.50.

Cross-country day got off to the perfect start when McEwen was the first, and one of 10, to go clear inside the time around Pierre La Goupil’s track. Collett then produced a brilliant round with London 52, just adding 0.80 for time, before Canter looked to be home and hosed inside the time, but for 15 penalties to be added to her score for missing the flag at fence 21c, The Whimsical Woods.

That reduced their lead over France to just 4.7 penalties ahead of show jumping. Monday’s jumping began with a single mistake from Canter at the oxer at fence six, but McEwen and JL Dublin had a flawless run. When Collett dropped only the final fence, the result was underpinned. On a score of 91.30, they had gold around their necks once again.

Collett also added individual bronze, her first senior championship individual medal. “Being in Tokyo during Covid was the most surreal experience for our first Olympic Games, and to be able to have the opportunity to come to another Olympic Games and witness a crowd like we’ve had here, I’ve never before seen anything like it.

“From the moment we left the start box yesterday, fans were cheering, we were barely able to see where we were going as there were so many people, but it really lifted our horses. And I knew going into that arena today, London felt like he grew and felt like he was finally in front of the palace with lots of people cheering just for him,” Collett said with a smile.

Canter said: “I know the pressure was on us to win the gold, but to actually do it just feels absolutely amazing.” She added that the length of time it took for a decision to be made on her cross-country flag appeal had left “a bitter taste.

“Yesterday carried on for a lot longer than it should have. It would have been lovely to have had a bit of time to celebrate and enjoy what happened yesterday and so far, we haven’t been able to do that,” she said after her first show jumping round. “But we know we’ve got the best cross-country horse in the world. We think he gave everybody an absolutely stellar performance yesterday.”

Proud of his horse and mentioning his previous rider Nicola Wilson numerous times, McEwen, who finished in the unenviable position of fourth individually, having completed on his dressage score, said: “To come out on a day like this with Dubs, he was sensational, class from start to finish, he jumped his socks off!”

The Irish team of Austin O’Connor (Colorado Blue), Susie Berry (Wellfields Lincoln), Sarah Ennis (Action Lady M) and Aoife Clark (Sportsfield Freelance) eventually finished in ninth place after an up and down Games.