Dhe modern pentathlete Annika Schleu is surprised by the vehemence of the reactions after her Olympic drama in Tokyo. “I did not expect something like this to happen to me,” said the 31-year-old of the German press agency. She had been on the gold course in Tokyo after two disciplines before the horse that was awarded to her refused several times. Schleu used the whip at the request of national coach Kim Raisner, for which there was heavy criticism. In the interview, the Berliner describes how she experienced the scenes, what she says about the criticism of Raisner and how she deals with the sometimes violent comments and insults on the Internet.
How did you experience the competition and the situation?
Fate took its course when I saw beforehand that the other sportswoman had already received three refusals with my horse. We then had the hope that I could take a replacement horse. That would of course have been easier for us than with a horse that has already experienced stress on the course. Unfortunately, there was no such chance. The owner of my horse then gave me tips, I took it all to heart, it also worked very well on the warm-up area, so that I actually went into the competition relatively self-confidently.
And what happened then?
But then I noticed that the horse had blocked completely and didn’t really want to. I tried with a light hand – my hand was not close to the front of the mouth – with my legs and with my voice to get the horse forward so that it could even enter the course. But it didn’t want to leave the corner at all. Unfortunately, in this stressful situation – in first place at the Olympic Games – I lost my nerve a little faster and started to cry. I then tried to use the device.
Was that a mistake at that moment?
I don’t think it was in a way that riders wouldn’t, to teach obedience to a horse and convince it to enter the course. This is where these pictures were taken. Of course, I feel attacked when it is said that I am inhuman when allegations of cruelty to animals are raised. I treated the horse to the best of my knowledge. It was already clear that you had to be a little more consistent, but I was never rude.
Has this happened to you often in competitions?
It has never happened to me like this before. Of course you always have rides that aren’t that good. But I have seldom seen that the horse really didn’t want to. But for my feeling it has already hinted at something. A refusal of the horse to want to continue the course at all indicates that the horse is more unwell than when it refuses to jump.
You led at the Olympics and were on the gold course – was that why this situation was particularly bitter for you?
It was difficult for me. I would have liked to have taken a replacement horse. But after everything was so harmonious in the warm-up area, I expected that it would turn out differently. The horse’s panic came the moment the cameras were turned on us. Until then everything went according to plan.
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