Henrik von Eckermann: Fallen equestrian king on embracing mistakes after Paris 2024 fall - 'Just accept and let it go'
The fall of the world No.1 rider from the world's best horse during the jumping individual final was the biggest shock of the equestrian competition at Paris 2024. But as the athlete's journey shows, even mistakes have a silver lining.
Equestrian
On the ground, dishevelled, and with a look of disbelief on his face – this uncharacteristic photo of Henrik von Eckermann during the individual jumping final at Paris 2024 was arguably the most surprising image of the equestrian competition at the Olympic Games.
The long-time world No.1 was a favourite to win gold in the event and looked on track to do so until a "hectic" seventh jump and shocking fall from his horse King Edward after fence eight.
A ripple spread through the stands as the astounded spectators looked on at the arena. Queen Silvia of Sweden brought her hand to her mouth in stunned surprise.
A few days earlier, von Eckermann also missed out on the jumping team medal as defending champions Sweden finished sixth in the event. The Tokyo 2020 champion was visibly upset having completed the journey at his fourth Olympic Games empty-handed, but what he did next conveyed nothing but gratitude for the journey.
The 43-year-old rider stood up, took his horse by the reins, and kissed him on the muzzle.
This touching moment was living proof of how von Eckermann's approach to defeat has changed since his earlier years in the sport. No longer stifled by losses, the rider has now learned to take them as a learning opportunity.
“When you get older, you see life differently,” von Eckermann told World of Showjumping. “In our sport, we lose more than we win. However, losing should not be thought of as purely negative. You can get a lot of information and knowledge from your mistakes – about what to do, what to change, and how to react. You have to believe in what you are doing though, and in the timing of the events in your life."
His next competition is set to show how genuine those words are. Von Eckermann will be in a big spotlight again exactly two months since his fall at Paris 2024 – which he has described as "the worst thing that has happened to me" – when he competes at the inaugural League of Nations Final with Team Sweden in Barcelona, Spain on 6 October.
Henrik von Eckermann's evolving competition mindset
Von Eckermann started riding when he was 14 years old. Growing up, he also played tennis, football and ice hockey but ultimately switched from those sports because he did not feel he could be a champion in them.
“When I was little, I was goal-oriented as few (are). I tried a lot of sports to find one where I felt I could be the best in," von Eckermann told Equilife World. "As soon as I realised I wasn’t gonna make it to the stars, I quit and tried another one.
"That’s how the horses came into my life.”
In his ambitions to excel, von Eckermann contacted his equestrian idol, four-time Olympic champion Ludger Beerbaum, through a friend who worked at Beerbaum’s stables as a groom. To his surprise, Beerbaum agreed to a short internship and the 22-year-old von Eckermann eagerly made his way to his hero's stables in Germany.
While von Eckermann credits working alongside Beerbaum for his progression in the sport, he also acknowledges that his attitude towards winning and losing was not the healthiest at the time.
“I have built myself up step by step from the bottom. I did not have success very quickly or easily," von Eckermann told World of Showjumping. "While I was working at Ludger’s, that was my universe. It was all about the sport for me, and my life would break down if there was a bad result. This has changed."
It has been a gradual journey towards that point for the athlete who now runs his own stables in the Netherlands and competes for the Swedish national team.
Von Eckermann said he has spent time analysing his feelings after competitions to learn how to handle defeats better. His 23rd place finish in the individual event in his Olympic debut at London 2012, which he has described as a disappointment, was one of the key motivations for this.
“Through the years, I’ve been working a lot with myself," he said. "I’m born a perfectionist and I want to win. These qualities are great to have, but also sometimes these traits made me disappointed and angry with myself when I couldn’t perform as I had planned. What I’ve learned is just to see mistakes and faults for what they are, accept it and leave it behind. I cannot let it consume me to the extent that it will affect my next ride. Just accept and let it go."
Becoming a father to son Noah in 2021 has also helped von Eckermann take the sting out of competition defeats.
"I still dream and think about big things, but as I'm a father now, my priorities have shifted," he told Equnews International. "When I don't win the gold, the world won't end."
Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward in action during the jumping individual final at Paris 2024.
The fall of the king in Versailles
This mindset came in useful at the Paris 2024 Games.
Von Eckermann was on a glittering path leading up to Paris 2024: defending Olympic champion in the team event, reigning world and World Cup champion, and world No.1 for almost two years. At Tokyo 2020, von Eckermann led the Swedish team to their first gold medal in equestrian show jumping since 1924. In 2022, he became the first Swede to win the individual world title.
Meanwhile, King Edward was hailed as the best horse in the world. After the pair won the show jumping World Cup Final in April 2024, King Edward became the only horse to win back-to-back World Cups in 25 years.
Von Eckermann and King Edward had already taken gold together at Tokyo 2020 in the team event. At Paris 2024, it was time to add an individual title to their collection as well.
With the regal Chateau de Versailles setting the background, King Edward trotted out with his no less distinguished rider. Swedish royalty followed each of their moves from the grandstand. Sports royalty Serena Williams was also in the stands to watch the competition as were the thousands of spectators, clad in sun hats, a handful of them waving Swedish flags.
Everything looked good for the equestrian duo until fence six. After landing close to the water, von Eckermann fought to add a stride before the next obstacle, which resulted in King Edward scrambling to get over it. The pair then went for the oxer at fence eight and made the jump but swerved in different directions on the landing.
King Edward went left and von Eckermann lost his balance to the right. With the Paris 2024 timing markers in front of them, von Eckermann was unable to turn the horse and was pitched off to the ground as King Edward trotted away, bridle less.
“I have never experienced anything like this,” von Eckermann told the media after falling from his horse in the jumping individual final. “I have broken a leg but in terms of results, at this point, it is the worst thing that has happened to me.”
Olympic farewell for King Edward: "I am forever grateful for you, my King"
Both rider and horse were unharmed in the incident. After rising to his feet, von Eckermann approached King Edward and kissed him on the muzzle before the two left the arena together.
Von Eckermann walked away with his head bowed, petting his beloved horse during the long walk back. As von Eckermann reflected later, what hurt the most was not losing Olympic gold himself but denying King Edward's last chance at that medal.
"Paris 2024 Olympics are over and it ended in a way i could have never imagined," von Eckermann wrote on his Instagram after. "This were the last Olympic Games for King Edward, his shape and spirit were there to fight for the medals in the jump off, he deserved it so much. To taken that away from him is a bitter pill to swallow. But with time the wound and pain will heal and the scar that stays will hopefully make me a better rider and horseman. I'm forever grateful for you my King, my team and my family."
The rider’s wife, Swiss Olympian Janika Sprunger, rode the 14-year-old gelding first and von Eckermann took over in August 2020 when she became pregnant. It was the beginning of a partnership that would make equestrian history, though without the happy ending that Paris 2024 could have been.
“It's a bit unforgivable on my part,” von Eckermann told reporters after the individual final. “What do you say (to him)?... Somewhere sorry.”
There were no words of blame, and that perhaps is what best shows how much von Eckermann's priorities have shifted since the days of being a "born perfectionist" in the sport.
“To be able to communicate with (horses) in this way, it becomes a partnership," von Eckermann said about what matters most to him in show jumping. "Winning is a very small part of it all. It’s the journey that is so important."