SwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

The first thought: "Hope he doesn't hurt himself"

Henrik Ankarcrona has never experienced anything like this during his time as captain of the Swedish show jumping team. His first thought when von Eckermann fell off: I hope he doesn't hurt himself.

» Updated: 03 October 2024, 01:54

» Published: 06 August 2024

The first thought: "Hope he doesn't hurt himself"
Photo: Pontus Lundahl/TT

It was at the eighth obstacle, which looks like someone has copied the Eiffel Tower, that things started to go wrong. Then came the ninth, a symbol of the railway stations in Paris.

Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward lost their balance and wanted to go in different directions. The team captain explains how he perceived the situation.

I think he has a fine calm, jumps the combination, the line down, then something happens which makes him put in an extra jump and loses his balance a bit already towards the Eiffel Tower, says Henrik Ankarcrona.

Then he knows it's a long way ahead and then he has to put on full speed to reach the next obstacle, and then he's out of balance.

Got stuck in mascots

In a pair of Olympic Games mascots showing the start and finish, the team gets stuck. If they hadn't been there, the pair might have made it and been able to continue. A sigh went through the fully packed stands in Versailles.

They're both out of balance and it results in one going right and one going left.

Ankarcrona – himself a merited rider – says that he hasn't experienced anything like this during his time as team captain. He has led Sweden to medals, among other things, in the European Championship 2017, the World Championship 2018, and in the Olympic Games in Tokyo most recently.

"Everything falls apart"

He says that you see riders falling off at jumps over obstacles, but not like this. The first thought was about von Eckermann's safety.

I thought, hope he doesn't hurt himself, says Ankarcrona.

First and foremost, whole and healthy, that's the most important thing, but it's clear that everything falls apart when you fall off.

It's a relatively composed team captain who meets the press in the interview zone a few minutes after the fall.

You know how incredibly much energy and time lies behind this, but we work with living animals. We have to be constantly awake. Incredibly much nerves, energy. Everything has to be close to the maximum for us to get it. And today it ran over.

Swedish equestrian sports had representation in all three disciplines – eventing, dressage, and show jumping – but leaves Versailles without medals.

The closest to a medal was the eventing team, a questionable judgment from bronze.

Both dressage and show jumping failed miserably.

Last time equestrian sports left the Olympic Games without a medal was in Sydney 24 years ago.

Tags
TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Reluctant Poster Girl in Donald Duck and Talk Show
4 MIN READ

Reluctant Poster Girl in Donald Duck and Talk Show

Swedish show in NHL – goal fest for Bratt and Wennberg
2 MIN READ

Swedish show in NHL – goal fest for Bratt and Wennberg

Grant near the top in LPGA finale
1 MIN READ

Grant near the top in LPGA finale

Quick Hero - Arsenal to Quarterfinal
1 MIN READ

Quick Hero - Arsenal to Quarterfinal

Confirmed: Frida Karlsson Competes in the Swedish Premiere
1 MIN READ

Confirmed: Frida Karlsson Competes in the Swedish Premiere

Hammarby's anger after the celebration: "Disgusting"
2 MIN READ

Hammarby's anger after the celebration: "Disgusting"

Frustrated Frölunda fell: "Worst we've done this year"
2 MIN READ

Frustrated Frölunda fell: "Worst we've done this year"

Confirmed: Guardiola Extends with Manchester City
1 MIN READ

Confirmed: Guardiola Extends with Manchester City

Sweden in European Championship final after thriller: "Proud and happy"
1 MIN READ

Sweden in European Championship final after thriller: "Proud and happy"

Blytung comeback for Åberg: "A bit rusty"
2 MIN READ

Blytung comeback for Åberg: "A bit rusty"

Hammarby set a new attendance record: "Love every single one"
3 MIN READ

Hammarby set a new attendance record: "Love every single one"

Referee suspended after Isak-miss
1 MIN READ

Referee suspended after Isak-miss

Super strikers in qualifying – Värnamo equalized late
2 MIN READ

Super strikers in qualifying – Värnamo equalized late

Sjöström's Criticism: "Would Have Been a Worthy Winner"
2 MIN READ

Sjöström's Criticism: "Would Have Been a Worthy Winner"

Tough for Team Edin - misses European Championship semifinal
1 MIN READ

Tough for Team Edin - misses European Championship semifinal

Roberts: Nothing is broken in any case
2 MIN READ

Roberts: Nothing is broken in any case

Rookies get a chance in the World Cup premiere
2 MIN READ

Rookies get a chance in the World Cup premiere

MFF confirms: Dahlin has a cruciate ligament injury
1 MIN READ

MFF confirms: Dahlin has a cruciate ligament injury

Operated on after horror injury – testicle burst
1 MIN READ

Operated on after horror injury – testicle burst

Guide: Everything you need to know ahead of the distance premiere
2 MIN READ

Guide: Everything you need to know ahead of the distance premiere