Debutant Yasmin Ingham wins individual title at 2022 FEI Eventing World Championships as Germany lead nations qualifying for Paris 2024 Olympics

Yasmin Ingham caused a thrilling upset to win the individual title at the 2022 FEI Eventing World Championships on Sunday (18 September).

The British equestrian star, making her world championships debut on French horse Banzai du Loir, barely put a foot - or hoof - wrong in perfect conditions at Pratoni del Vivaro on the outskirts of Rome, Italy, as the medals were decided in the show jumping

Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Julia Krajewski of Germany finished with silver aboard Amande de B’Neville, while New Zealand's Tim Price and Falco took bronze.

Pre-event favourite Michael Jung finished in fifth after knocking down two fences on his final run.

This World Championships also served as a qualifying event for Paris 2024, and IOC President Thomas Bach was on hand during the competition in Pratoni del Vivaro to witness the action.

The top-seven finishers in the team event were awarded direct Olympic qualification. Germany were victorious for the first time in 20 years with a total of 95.2, while USA took second with 100.3.

New Zealand surprised the field to win bronze with 100.7, while defending team champions Great Britain from just missing out on a medal in fourth with 100.9.

There was a gap to Ireland in fifth place, while Sweden sealed sixth and Switzerland finished in seventh to claim the final qualifying spot.

Ingham jumped an impeccable clear round to remain on her 23.2 two-phase total, which had put her in second after the cross-country.

Jung could afford to fall one fence in order to clinch top spot, but after his second error, victory was Ingham's.

The 25-year-old joins an illustrious list of British individual world champions including Rosalind Canter, Zara Philips, Virginia Leng, Lucinda Green, and Mary Gordon-Watson.

"Honestly, I'm still not believing it at the moment. I really didn't think this would happen," Ingham said after.

"My horse Banzai (du Loir) was just just impeccable today and I couldn't fault him in the showjumping round. I'm just over the moon and I can't explain how happy I am; I'm still shaking.

On winning in her first World Championships, she said the following:

"It was extremely nerve-wracking. I just tried to treat it as a normal competition and do my normal routine and structured system. I blocked everything else out and he (Banzai) delivered today, he was just perfect."

Jung reflected on his loss, saying: “Today I’m a little bit unlucky, but lucky on the other side it was enough for the team. I’m very happy for the whole team.”

His teammate Krajewski was pleased with her mount, Amande de B’Neville: “My goal was to finish on my dressage score. She’s so special and she really jumped her socks off. An Individual Silver and Team gold… you can’t get much better!”