von Eckermann remains on the king’s throne: “Completely empty now”

Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward have dominated showjumping in recent years. Reigning world champion von Eckermann has been world number one since August 2022 and has won Olympic team gold as well as individual and team WC at King Edward.

Last year – in the American Omaha – the 42-year-old became the first Swede to win the World Cup final. On Saturday night, the crew repeated that feat – without breaking a single barrier in four jumps in Riyadh.

– One would like to rejoice more. It’s not that I don’t feel joy, but you feel completely empty. However, tomorrow there will be more joy, says von Eckermann to SVT.

“Real thriller”

Frenchman Julien Epaillard at Dubai du Cedre put the pressure on before the last final jump. On the other hand, the world number one has previously been in the situation of coming last in a decisive jump.

– Only preparations and routines apply. I have to stick to my routines and preparations to 120 percent. If I feel that I have done what I can and have everything I can influence under control, I just focus on my riding. Without thinking about the result, says von Eckermann.

However, the result was the best possible – he piloted King Edward through another flawless round.

– It was a real thriller today. I’m glad it’s over. I’m completely empty. Fantastic, says the Swede.

But it was dramatic. In the warm-up, von Eckermann fell off King Edward – just like in Gothenburg in February.

– It didn’t help that I fell off during the warm-up, he says, thinking about the mental discharge.

Peder Fredricson and Catch Me Not were second behind the compatriot before the decision on Saturday. However, after a tear in the first jump of the day, the team fell back to a shared third place.

Fredricson: “Super happy”

In the second jump, all the barriers remained, but shortly afterwards Fredricson was passed by Epaillard. The Frenchman finished second.

– I am super happy for this podium place, says Fredricson about his third place to SVT.

It looks increasingly as if Fredricson in 18-year-old Catch Me Not has found a horse to be able to compete for a place in the Swedish show jumping team for the Olympics in Paris this summer after the retirement of the star horse All In.

Double Swedish on the podium in the World Cup final in Riyadh shows that Sweden is still a world nation.

– We pull each other. We compete together, but also against each other. It is a very healthy competition. We spur each other on, says Fredricson.

The competitions in Saudi Arabia were, on the whole, a blue-yellow success. Patrik Kittel and the horse Touchdown won the World Cup final in dressage on Friday.