Sweden’s Olympic gold medalist show jumping riders are once again on top of the world, with major accolades going to talented riders.

Two-time gold medalist Peder Fredericson clinched the world No.1 spot in October for the first time, and weeks later he won the title of Best Athlete at the FEI Awards.

And his teammate Henrick von Eckermann and his Olympic silver individual and team gold horse King Edward were crowned champions of the Super Grand Prix Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) at 1.25 million euros.

The duo, along with Malin Baryard-Johnsson (Indiana), helped Sweden win their first Olympic gold medal in show jumping in almost 100 years.

The medal marked 29 years since Fredricson made his Olympic debut at the age of 20 at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, when he was an accomplished rider and Sweden’s youngest Olympic equestrian athlete.

The 49-year-old was unable to attend the FEI Awards in Belgium, but thanked sponsor Peden Bloodstock and everyone who voted for him in a video speech.

He said the award meant a lot to him, as well as to his team and owners.

“I am also very happy to be number one in the Longines ranking. This is a goal that I have had for a few years.

“I always try to do my best and improve myself, my team and the horses, rather than beating someone else. We all work very hard to keep the horses fit and healthy, to achieve those goals and to earn many medals along the way. I am also very grateful to my horse owners who support me and provide me with this good chain of horses.

Quick and clear seals the deal for Henrik

A decisive round for Henrik von Eckermann and his King Edward pocket rocket that paved the way to victory in the € 1.25million LGCT Super Grand Prix in Prague, when they jumped an extremely fast clear round to secure pole position for the second round.

The third edition of the event featured the top 15 riders who qualified in the 2021 LGCT Championship Series.

The showdown took place before a sold-out crowd at the O2 Arena in Prague with von Eckermann’s victory greeted with a standing ovation after the Swedish rider and his incredible gelding took the win.

It wasn’t such a good night for 2021 LGCT season champion Peder Fredricson, who had a shocking denial on H&M Christian K coming home with to finish with 15 fouls and straight away in order, and Malin Baryard-Johnsson, whose El Barone 111 Z hit the brakes, stopping in the middle of the Longines suit on the first lap.

But von Eckermann was delighted with his victory. “Coming back to that atmosphere for me is amazing, it was a special time for me with this audience. I had a goal all the time to qualify here because I knew I would have a good chance. fantastic feeling when it goes like today, ”he said.

Also producing a double clear round on his talented black gelding Alamo, Sergio Alvarez Moya secured second place as the 2019 LGCT Super Grand Prix winning combination Ben Maher and Explosion W cracked under the pressure with the forward fall. -last closing and third place on the podium.

Spectators cheered with applause as von Eckermann triumphantly won the LGCT Grand Prix Silver Trophy, which was presented by Longines CEO Matthias Breshan.

The grooms received special recognition when they received a trophy after leading the champion horses into the arena for the closing moments of the awards ceremony and the thrilling lap of honor.

” Full results

Double celebrations for the FEI Awards

The stars of equestrian sport were honored at the 13th edition of the FEI Awards at the FEI General Assembly in Antwerp, Belgium last week, the celebration also including the 2020 award winners.

Over 300 distinguished guests, including local sporting legends, national federations, FEI partners and stakeholders attended, with equestrian commentator Steven Wilde (GBR) acting as master of ceremonies. All the 2020 award winners – Ingrid Klimke, Semmieke Rothenberger, Carmen Thiemann, Angelika Trabert and Ebony Horse Club – were also present in Antwerp, who were invited to join in the celebration after the cancellation of the ceremony of the year. last due to the pandemic.

This year’s winners were chosen by combining 50% of the public votes cast on FEI.org and Chinese social media platform WeChat, and 50% of the judges’ votes.

The Longines FEI Rising Star Award went to Greta Busacker (GER), 19, individual and team champion at this year’s FEI European Eventing Championships for Young Riders, and bronze medalist at the German National Young Riders Championships 2021. Her victory made FEI Awards a resolutely family affair, with his mother, Ingrid Klimke, recipient of the Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete Awards 2019 and 2020.

The Best Cavalor FEI Groom Award was awarded to Marie Johansson of Sweden, in recognition of her hard work and dedication to the horses of dressage rider Patrik Kittel. Patrik and his wife Lyndal Oatley were on hand to celebrate the victory. “This award means everything to me,” she said. “It’s amazing that we, the grooms, can also be part of this gala. I’m so happy with all the people who voted for me, it’s so important. I am super happy and super proud! Truly!”

The FEI Solidarity Prize 2021 went to the Chinese association Equuleus Charity, which aims to help disadvantaged young students achieve their equestrian dream while successfully completing their university studies.

The award is presented annually to an equestrian development project or to an individual or organization that has demonstrated skill, dedication and energy in the expansion of equestrian sport.

Founder and CEO Michelle Wang Qiang thanked the FEI, FEI Solidarity, the Chinese Equestrian Association, Equuleus partner foundations, as well as Alex Hua Tin and his mother Sarah Noble.

To celebrate the FEI Awards and pay homage to China’s centuries-old tradition of valuing and cherishing horses, Founder and CEO Michelle Wang Qiang wrote, in calligraphy, an iconic text on how to identify an exceptional horse by an eighth-century Tang Dynasty scholar, poet and government official Han Yu. She dedicated her calligraphy work to the FEI awards ceremony.

Taking the FEI price against all odds was Beatrice de Lavalette (United States), who lost both legs in the March 2016 terrorist attack at Zaventem Airport in Brussels (BEL) and made her first Paralympic debut in Tokyo earlier this year in the sport of para-dressage.

“The Against All Odds award means it all,” said de Lavalette. “It shows me that everything I’ve done over the past five or six years has been seen and that people have realized how important it really is.”

She said that as a result of the attack, she lost part of herself and her freedom. “It took me a while to get over my sadness of losing my legs, losing my ability to walk, and waking up to a completely different life. Every time I ride a horse, I regain my freedom. I ride horses almost like everyone else. I ride very well on horseback. I love to do it. Experimenting and doing different things with horses gives a feeling of power that I often lose while sitting in a chair. So having that feeling of freedom and that power back means everything. “