Team Sweden dominates FEI World Cup Finals in Riyadh 2024

Team Sweden claimed the gold medals in both jumping and dressage equestrian disciplines at the 2024 FEI World Cup Finals in Riyadh from 16-20 April.

Sweden’s first success came by the name of Patrik Kittel and his horse, Touchdown, earning top honors in the Grand Prix Freestyle on Friday. It was an emotional victory for the Swede, whose James-Bond-inspired performance earned them his first-ever World Cup Final crown.

Kittel said in an interview with FEI: “I cannot believe it, seriously. Touchdown just flew with me today. I think for me, the power and the fighting spirit that Touchdown shows me…that’s the sport."

Denmark’s Nanna Skodborg Merrald brought home a silver medal for the second year in a row. Completing the podium was five-time World Cup champion and seven-time Olympic gold medalist Isabell Werth of Germany, who took the bronze at her 25th World Cup Final. Like Skodborg Merrald, Werth’s result was also a repeat of the World Cup Finals in Omaha 2023. Both are exceptionally strong riders whose consistent performances hint at the forces they are likely to be this summer as well.

Great Britain’s front-runner Charlotte Fry, who won the Grand Prix on Day 1, was eliminated on a last-minute bit check with her horse Everdale.

Henrik Von Eckermann takes the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup title for second year in a row

After Sweden secured the dressage title on Friday, anticipation shifted to Saturday to see if the trend would continue.

The decisive moment arrived during Henrik Von Eckermann's final jumping round, with just one fence standing between him and Frenchman Julien Epillard, who was riding Dubai du Cedre.

Mounted on his horse, King Edward, the Olympic, World, and European champion Eckermann finished with a flawless round, officially clearing every obstacle over the weekend.

The crowd erupted with cheers as the "Kings" (Eckermann and Edward) defended their title from 2023 in Omaha, setting a new record for the Jumping World Cup.

“We both had to fight a little bit. It was not as easy as I wanted it today, but the final result is clear and I’m so happy,” said World Number 1 Eckermann in an interview with FEI.

His teammate and fellow Olympic Champion Peder Fredricson took the bronze medal, followed by an incredibly close fourth-place finish by the USA’s Kent Farrington, who introduced his young horses Greya and Toulayna to higher-level competition. Like Farrington, Epaillard wanted to see how Dubai du Cedre performed in Riyadh and determine what still needs to be done in time for August.

As the dust settles on an exhilarating weekend of world-class equestrian competition, all eyes now turn towards the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Scheduled from 27 July to 6 August, the equestrian events loom on the horizon, with final team selections just around the corner.

Read more about the qualification for equestrian jumping here.