FEI Jumping World Championships 2022: Olympic champs Sweden claim first world team title in Paris 2024 qualifier
World number one Henrik von Eckermann led the Swedes to a commanding victory in Herning to book their place at Paris 2024 along with the Netherlands, Great Britain, Ireland and Germany.
Equestrian
Sweden were a class apart as they added the world team title to their Olympic gold at the FEI Equestrian World Championships in Herning, Denmark on Friday (12 August).
The Swedes led overnight courtesy of excellent first-day performances from Peder Fredricson and Henrik von Eckermann.
And they were in the box seat thanks to another faultless round from von Eckermann and King Edward who famously jumped six clears out of six at last year's Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Malin Baryard-Johnsson and Indiana had four faults, but a clear from Jens Fredricson on Markan Cosmopolit gave Sweden an unassailable lead with little brother Peder and All In still to go.
It was a good job they did as he had three fences down to all but rule Fredricson Jr out of the individual medal hunt.
That leaves von Eckermann (0.58) atop the individual standings from Jens Fredericson (2.71) with Belgium's Jerome Guery and Quel Homme de Hus in third on 3.35.
France started the day in second with Julien Epaillard on top in the individual event, but his two fences down on Caracole de la Roque put paid to his and his country's medal chances.
Harrie Smolders and Monaco anchored last year's Nations Cup winners the Netherlands to silver with Britain third largely thanks to Harry Charles' clear on Romeo 88.
Ben Maher's hopes of adding the world title to his Olympic crown were all but ended he had a fence down on Faltic HB.
That left him down in eighth place on 5.72 ahead of Sunday's individual final.
And when Scott Brash on Hello Jefferson, second overnight, joined Epaillard in incurring eight faults, Britain were out of the reckoning for gold.
Ireland moved up from ninth overnight to fourth place with Germany taking fifth to claim the last quota spot for Paris 2024.
Sixth would have been enough for the Germans with Paris 2024 hosts France, who did finish sixth, already guaranteed their place in the team competition.
The shock of Thursday was reigning champions United States missing out on the top 10 qualifiers for the final by one spot.
McLain Ward and young Brian Moggre continued in the individual competition, but the former retired Contagious midway through an uncharacteristically error-strewn round while Moggre and Balou du Reventon had 34 faults on another day to forget for Team USA.
Jumping World Championships 2022 Team Results (top five win team spots at Paris 2024):
1. Sweden 7.69
2. Netherlands 19.31
3. Great Britain 22.66
4. Ireland 23.15
5. Germany 24.76
6. France 26.44
7. Belgium 26.49
8. Switzerland 26.83
9. Brazil 32.29
10. Canada 43.56
READ MORE: Paris 2024 equestrian jumping qualification process explained
Jumping World Championships 2022 Schedule for Paris 2024 qualification
(all times in Central European Summer Time/CEST, which is UTC+2):
Sunday 14 August
13:50 Individual final
How to watch Herning 2022 Jumping World Championships 2022 and Paris 2024 qualification final
The full event is being broadcast by the FEI's TV and digital livestream partners, with replays and highlights also available.
Full details of where to watch can be found here.