After the bronze medal of the dressage team, the team of show jumpers started third in the decisive round of the Nations Cup at the World Championships in Denmark. After an exciting exam, there is no reason to celebrate. Also because of a fatal error.
After André Thieme fell, the German show jumping team missed a medal at the World Championships in Denmark. The European champion from Plau am See dropped out with Chakaria. Christian Ahlmann from Marl was the last rider to secure fifth place with his horse Dominator for national coach Otto Becker's team in Herning. After all, the German team managed to qualify early for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. This required a place among the top five teams in the World Cup. Gold went to Sweden in front of around 10,000 spectators in the converted FC Midtjylland football stadium.
After a weak start to the World Championships with the worst German result in the time competition on Wednesday, André Thieme wanted to do better on Friday, but it got even worse. The rider fell off Chakaria and retired. The 47-year-old from Plau am See made sure that the result was eliminated.
As on the previous days, the starting rider was Marcus Ehning with Stargold. After the error-free round in the first part of the Nations Cup on Thursday, the 48-year-old from Borken did not show a brilliant performance in the second. The three-time World Cup winner collected eight penalty points with his stallion, giving his team a difficult starting position. "I have to hope for the others now, it's enormous pressure for the three," said Ehning. "I hope I have the worst result of us." But he was wrong about that.
Despite the disappointing start caused by the starting rider, Jana Wargers kept her nerves. The World Championship debutant showed a round without a knockdown with Limbridge and seemed to fly over the obstacles with her gelding, only receiving one penalty point for exceeding the allowed time. The 30-year-old, who lives in Bocholt, Belgium, showed an impressive performance at her first major international event and only had one down in the three special stages. "Yes the pressure was huge after Marcus had two penalties but everything worked out today," commented Wargers.
As the last German starter, Christian Ahlmann was under particular pressure. In the Dominator's saddle, he "still had a few more jumps to jump", as he said of the 13-obstacle course. The 47-year-old from Marl also had to cope with a knockdown. Most recently, there was bronze four years ago at the title fights in Tryon, North Carolina. The last of the three gold medals was won by Germany in Lexington/Kentucky in 2010, at the first World Cup with Becker as national coach.
There is another chance for a medal on Sunday. The individual world champion will be determined in two further rounds. If the leaders had the same number of points, there would be a jump-off. The previously customary final with a change of horses has been abolished. Most recently, four years ago, Simone Blum from Zolling in Bavaria won gold with Alice in the USA.
