The German showjumping team secured the team gold medal at the World Championships in Aachen after holding off the competition under the floodlights in front of 40,000 spectators, according to widespread reports from the venue. Under the direction of national coach Otto Becker, the quartet sealed victory roughly an hour before the final round concluded.
German Showjumpers Deliver Under Floodlights in Aachen
Germany entered Friday evening’s final phase holding the lead in the team standings following a strong run of performances across Wednesday and Thursday, where the squad recorded seven clear rounds out of eight attempts. The team maintained a narrow advantage over the United States entering the decisive evening session at the venue, recognized as the largest equestrian stadium in the world.
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Daniel Deußer, riding Otello, delivered a clear round as the third team rider, mathematically locking up the gold medal before anchor rider Richard Vogel entered the arena. Because the team competition counts only the three best scores for each nation across three days of action, Vogel’s subsequent round with United Touch did not impact the final standings, confirming the German victory early.
Marcus Ehning and Sophie Hinners Set the Foundation
Opening the night for the host nation, 52-year-old Marcus Ehning produced a flawless performance aboard Coolio, successfully navigating all 14 obstacles without a fault. „Also ich bin fasziniert von meinem Pferd, wie es diese drei Tage hier abgeliefert hat“, Ehning remarked in an interview with WDR, describing his mount’s performance over the three days as incredible.”
WM debutant Sophie Hinners followed with a clean jump aboard Singclair over the 580-meter course, though the pair incurred a single time penalty for exceeding the 87-second time limit. „Singclair sprang wieder fantastisch, das ist ein ganz gigantisches Gefühl“, Hinners stated, praising the gelding’s movement and describing the atmosphere at the venue as exceptional.”
National Coach Otto Becker Praises Team Resilience
National coach Otto Becker highlighted the mental toughness required to manage the lengthy championship format and the intense pressure of competing on home soil as the hunted favorite. „Das Warten ist zäh“, Becker noted, explaining that the long days between events create unique mental demands compared to standard competitions where riders manage multiple horses throughout the day. Becker previously coached Germany to team gold at the 2010 World Championships in Lexington, Kentucky, an event that also featured veteran team member Marcus Ehning.”
The victory marks Germany’s fourth team gold in World Championship history and their first since the 2010 triumph in Kentucky. Following Deußer’s clear round with Otello, the crowd and team celebrated the early confirmation of the title as the competition concluded under the evening lights.
