THAT was a rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish at the Chateau de Versailles. Writing from Charles de Gaulle Airport as I wait to board a flight back to Dublin, it is hard to sum up what the Olympics really mean.

Tuesday’s individual show jumping final had it all, heartache and immense joy. It was the elite top-end sportspeople going as hard as they could around the biggest track that most of them had ever seen. Many athletes who spoke to the media said they had never walked anything as big and technical as what Santiago Varela and Gregory Bodo built in the final and it’s safe to safe, I definitely never walked a track so big.

It was a great honour and huge bonus to get a guided course walk from Varela ahead of the team final; he is truly a genius (and artist) at work. The design of the fences were the most beautiful I have ever seen and his course building techniques ensured the best rose to the top.

Germany’s Christian Kukuk eventually came out a most deserving winner with the beautiful Checkter and they were flawless on the final day to be crowned Olympic champions. Kukuk, who is part of the Ludger Beerbaum school of excellence, was a joy to interview, heaping praise on his horse and team and truly enjoying the moment.

Format

A conversation that isn’t going away is if the format is really serving the sport in terms of finding the best horse of the Games?

This observation is in no way an attempt to be negative and we must celebrate the champions, but I struggle with the concept of going back to zero for the team and individual final; I still believe the Games should be decided on an accumulative score over the course of the four (or five) rounds of show jumping.

Every round jumped clear at the Olympics is a phenomenal achievement. Take Daniel Coyle and Legacy who, along with Dutch rider Kim Emmen and USA’s Karl Cook, came into Tuesday’s team final having jumped three flawless clear rounds the previous three days.

Obviously, because we now know the result, things didn’t go perfectly for any of those three on the final day, but I believe they should have been given the chance to jump last in the order with an Olympic gold medal on the line. Instead, they were jumping a regular Grand Prix-like format over the biggest track they have ever jumped.

Take nothing away from the excitement of the final day; three riders in the jump-off was perfect and it was a thriller from start to finish. And at the end of the day, Kukuk finished with just eight faults over the five rounds, including a jump-off, (clear, four, four, clear, clear), and no other horse finished the Games with less than that either.

Perhaps the format of starting on zero makes it easier for the regular viewer to watch, and that is important for the future of the sport in the Olympic Games, but I am not convinced it is what the purist wants.

Building a Legacy

What an amazing Olympic Games for Daniel Coyle on his first time of trying. He has captured the imagination of show jumping fans all over the world with his beautiful mare Legacy. He speaks about her with such warmth and love. Every time he came to speak to the media, he was open and honest with his words and emotions.

He couldn’t hide his disappointment on Tuesday after it went wrong for them in the final round, and there is no shame in that, a blow of his cheeks and “it’s a bit s**t” was his feeling. He said from the outset he was there to be competitive and it so nearly paid off for them.

Daniel Coyle and Legacy at the Paris Olympic Games \ Tomas Holcbecher

There is no doubt the team competition ended in disappointment too for Ireland, there is no point in sugar coating it. I know the hard work that went on behind the scenes by every rider and support staff in getting to that point.

They went in as the world number one team and were labelled as favourites by the statistics gurus. Ireland were in good shape and there were no bad rounds, just not quite good enough in the end.

I met Michael Blake afterwards and he was dejected, I really felt for him and the whole support team, led by Bernard Jackman and Triona Connors. Everyone got behind them, but that’s sport, and the Olympics is a tough as it gets. The agonising wait for another Irish equestrian medal continues and attention now turns to Los Angeles 2028.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the Games and the format. Email me at jfaherty@theirishfield.ie

And the award goes to ...

Show jumping horse of the Games: Caracole de la Roque

Karl Cook and Caracole de la Roque so nearly could have been collecting a second medal at their first Olympic Games last week.

Called in at the last minute as the reserve rider, they were double clear to help USA win team silver and came into the individual final as one of just three combinations who were clear up to that point.

A mistake on the approach to the final double meant they had both elements down. Cook held his head in his hands afterwards.

“I took the turn too sharply and took my first distance. I needed to be more patient. She was jumping amazing before and this just sucks.”

Karl Cook celebrates on Caracole de la Roche after USA won team silver at the Paris Olympic Games \ Tomas Holcbecher

Heartwarming moment of the Games: Japan winning eventing medal

As written about last week, the sacrifices made by the Japanese eventing team – leaving their families at home for the best part of 10 years to go to Europe and train for an Olympics – was all made worthwhile when they finished with a bronze medal against all odds. It was magic to watch and hopefully not the last of that brilliant team.

Heartbreaking moment of the Games: Henrik von Eckermann’s fall

The individual jumping final served all the drama and there were two rider falls over the savage track. For world number one Henrik von Eckermann, the fall did not even happen at a fence.

After the big open water on a difficult related distance line, they got a tricky stride to the next vertical and then had to push to clear the next oxer. Afterwards, the horse couldn’t decide which way to go and Henrik momentarily lost his balance before they came to an abrupt stop close to the railing and he fell off.

It was an undeserving finish to an underwhelming Games for von Eckermann and Sweden.