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Tokyo Olympics 2020: Canadian Equestrian Team Rocked By Last Minute Withdrawal Due To Horse Injury
The equestrian games at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 kicked off with dressage. With the mighty Germans triumphing over USA and Great Britain, focus shifts to eventing. The toughest and most challenging of the equestrian games saw its latest withdrawal with Canada’s Jessica Phoenix.
Canadian eventer withdraws from Tokyo Olympics 2020
Tokyo 2020 Olympics – The Tokyo 2020 Olympics Opening Ceremony – Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan – July 23, 2021. General view of the opening ceremony REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch.
The Canadian equestrian team faced a ton of obstacles on their journey to the Tokyo Olympics 2020. From Nicole Walker’s cocaine violation to Eric Lamaze’s sudden withdrawal, they’ve come a long way to compete in Tokyo. However, the withdrawal of Jessica Phoenix has compounded their problems.
Phoenix is one of the Canada’s highest ranked eventers. While she wasn’t their chief hope for a podium finish, her involvement mattered the most. Having competed in London 2012 and Rio 2016, her experience at the Olympic was most useful. Unfortunately, an injury to her horse Pavarotti has ruled her out of the Games.
.@Equestrian_Can and Jessica Phoenix have made the very difficult decision to withdraw Pavarotti (Pavarotti van de Helle x Foxiland XX) from the eventing competition of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. https://t.co/PipXYiJzTC
— Team Canada PR (@TeamCanadaPR) July 29, 2021
In a statement by Equestrian Canada, Eventing Chef d’Équipe, Fleur Tipton talked about the horse’s status. “We were so excited to see Pavarotti finally take on Olympic competition but horse health and safety remains priority number one. We are thankful that Pavarotti’s injury is minor and eternally grateful to his care team for ensuring his comfort and ability to fully recover. Jessica and Pavarotti are a team for the ages and we fully support them both through this heartbreaking turn of events.”
Her withdrawal means Colleen Loach will be the sole participant at tomorrow’s eventing dressage individual qualifier. Will this impact the team’s medal hopes, or will Loach make it to the podium?
Who are the favorites to win at the eventing competition?
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 10: (BROADCAST – OUT) Equestrian, Phillip Dutton of the United States poses for a photo with his bronze medal on the Today show set on Copacabana Beach on August 10, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Eventing is a grueling sport and requires athletes to perfect all three aspects of equestrian. It combines showjumping, dressage and cross-country, which makes it the ultimate equestrian challenge. However, for the likes of Oliver Townend, Michael Jung and Phillip Dutton, this is what they’ve trained for their whole lives.
Eventing world #1 Oliver Townend comes off impressive performances at the CCI4* and CCI5* events in Kentucky. He wasn’t Great Britain’s only hope for an equestrian gold medal, but Charlotte Dujardin won two bronze medals in dressage.
American eventing legend Phillip Dutton will look to add another gold to his impressive tally. He will go up against another eventing legend Andrew Hoy, who was his teammate when he represented Australia at the Olympics. At the Tokyo Olympics 2020, former teammates will become new rivals, but who will emerge victorious?
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