Unlikely Olympic duel: Could face his wife

Sweden versus Switzerland, husband versus wife. The duel can await at the Olympic show jumping events in Versailles at the beginning of August. Henrik von Eckermann's wife Janika Sprunger is competing for a place in the Swiss Olympic team.

» Updated: September 02 2024

» Published: June 20 2024

Unlikely Olympic duel: Could face his wife
Photo: Pontus Lundahl/TT

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Sweden against Switzerland, husband against wife.

The duel can wait until the Olympic show jumping events in Versailles at the beginning of August.

Henrik von Eckermann's wife Janika Sprunger is competing for a place in the Swiss Olympic team.

The competitions over the Midsummer weekend in Rotterdam – including team show jumping in the League of Nations and a GP show jumping event on the programme – are one of the few major competitions remaining before the Olympic teams are finalised.

Swedish riders in attendance are von Eckermann, Peder Fredricson, Malin Baryard Johnsson and Rolf-Göran Bengtsson.

So is a Swiss team.

She (Janika) is also going to Rotterdam. It's a bit of a fight about who will go with Martin Fuchs and Steve Guerdat, says von Eckermann to TT.

How would it be to meet Janika in the Olympics?

It would be fantastic, to ride there together.

When will Switzerland select its Olympic riders?

After Rotterdam, I think. That's what all teams do.

World number one von Eckermann broke his horse King Edward's long competition break after the success in the World Championship in Riyadh in April. The championship horse competed in a class with low obstacles in Opglabbeek, Belgium.

The serious Olympic preparation for King Edward begins competitively this week.

He has had a relatively long break and needs to get going. One competition is too little. In Rotterdam, I'm only doing the nations show jumping and then on Saturday and Sunday (next week in the Global Champions Tour) in Stockholm.

Then there's a new competition-free phase ahead of the Olympics for King Edward.

Do you see the last stage of the League of Nations in Rotterdam as an Olympic rehearsal for the team?

Absolutely. It will be the last thing we do with the most and the best we have. We want to make the final in Barcelona (3-6 October) and it fits well in time before the Olympics.

Venue: Versailles.

Schedule:

1 August: Qualification in the team event

2 August: Team final and medal ceremony.

5 August: Individual qualification.

6 August: Individual final and medal ceremony.

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By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

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