French Jumpers Looking for Glory

Jumping is the Equestrian discipline that most spectators find most appealing. Whatever the format of competition, the goal is always a clear round with no rails down.
 
75 competitors from 27 NOC's are competing. Sixteen countries have four riders and a fifth in standby as a reserve and will therefore be eligible to form a team.
 
Three competitions on three days with five rounds altogether are to be ridden before achieving an individual medal.
 
The fact that none of the three medal winners from Sydney are out to defend the title in Athens, shows how fickle jumping can be. One rail down, whether by inability or un-attentiveness can make all the difference.
 
Favourites for the competition are the French riders, having won the Team World Championship in 2002 and having the World Cup winner Bruno BROUQCSAULT with them.
 
Frenchman Eric NAVET became silver medallist at the World Championship, twelve years after his first success in Stockholm.
 
Germany is the defending team gold medallist since Atlanta and is the current European Champion, but their team is missing the number one rider of the world ranking, since Markus EHNING had to withdraw due to an injury to his horse.
 
His place is taken by Marco KUTSCHER, training with multimedallist Ludger BEERBAUM but has little international experience. It has to be seen weather BEERBAUM and Otto BECKER can carry the load with European Champion Christian AHLMANN.
 
The United States are in good form, proven lastly at Aachen, where the team became second in the Nations Cup. Peter WYLDE and his mare FEIN CERA are the bronze winners of the World Championship.
 
Brazil, with leading Rodrigo PESSOA, will try to defend the bronze medal from Sydney.
 
Belgium, the Netherlands, Ireland and Sweden are other competitors to consider.
 
A competition not against the clock, opens the first Qualifier at Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Centre. It starts 22 August at 9:00.
 
The team competition consists of two rounds that make the second and third individual qualifier at the same time, to be decided on 24 August, beginning at 9:00. The three best riders in each round are counted for each team.
 
The top ten teams will go on into the second round to be decided at 20:30.
 
The Individual Final is held on Friday, 27 August and traditionally concludes the Olympic Equestrian Games.
 
The top 45 riders after the third qualifier will go on in Round A, starting at 16:00, with the top 20 going into Round B, beginning at 20:30.
 
Any tie for medals will be broken by a jump-off.
 
This format has been unchanged since the Olympic Games in Atlanta 1996.
 
All courses at Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Centre are designed by Olaf PETERSEN (GER). The course designer from Germany has already proven his work at the Olympic Games 1988 in Seoul and at the World Championships 1990 in Stockholm.