Eleven Olympic champions in Versailles!
Worldwide top riders have warmly welcomed the Jumping International du château de Versailles: this first edition of the competition presents simply an exceptional rider list with, among others, no less than eleven Olympic gold medalists, past or current, who will appear in the Grande Ecurie du Roi’s arena, next May 5th to 7th.
Having eleven Olympic champions lined up for a show is very rare, but in Versailles, it will be reality. The French crowd will have the opportunity to cheer once again on their heroes of the Olympic Games of 2016: Pénélope Leprévost, Kevin Staut, Philippe Rozier and Roger-Yves Bost. The crowd will also have the chance to observe Netherlands Jeroen Dubbeldam (Olympic Champion 2000 and two-times World Champion and defending European Champion), Brazil Rodrigo Pessoa (Olympic Champion 2004), Canada Eric Lamaze (Olympic Champion 2008), Switzerland Steve Guerdat (2012), as Team Olympic Champions Laura Kraut (2008, USA) and the duo from Great-Britain Ben Maher / Scott Brash (2012). Finally, Sweden Peder Fredricson, who completed the individual podium at Rio, will also be alongside his fellow riders. And with USA Kent Farrington and Germany Christian Ahlmann and Daniel Deusser, there will be three other team medalists from the Olympic Games of 2016.
Simply exceptional; and that’s not all!
During the Jumping International du château de Versailles, spectators will also watch ten World Cup winners: Rodrigo Pessoa (3 times), Steve Guerdat (twice) as Germany Daniel Deusser (in 2014 in Lyon) and Christian Ahlmann, just like one of the legends of this sport, Great-Britain John Whitaker, title he won with the no less legendary Milton in 1990, and still at its greatest at 62 y-old!
The Grand Prix will be in partnership with Rolex, one of the most important and faithful sponsors in the equestrian sport. Several riders enlisted to this event compete under the colors of the brand: four Olympic champions, Steve Guerdat, Eric Lamaze, Rodrigo Pessoa and Kevin Staut. Besides, every Rolex rider have been world n°1 at a point, starting with Scott Brash, unique rider in the history to have won the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, meaning three consecutive victories in the Grand Prix of Aachen, Calgary and Geneva. A unique feat in the sport.
Other stars will also be under the spotlight, as the popular Moroccan Abdelkebir Ouaddar and his amazing Quickly de Kreisker, or Bruce Springsteen’s daughter,