Henrik von Eckermann and the horse King Edward in action during the Tokyo Olympics. On Saturday, the crew won the World Cup final for the second year in a row. Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB
Of NTB | 20.04.2024 23:40:24
Sport: – Now I’m completely empty, said the 42-year-old after completing four laps without the crew tearing down a single obstacle.
Von Eckermann and King Edward have dominated show jumping in recent years. With the horse, von Eckermann has been world champion since 2022. There has been Olympic gold for the team, WC gold both individually and for the team.
Last year von Eckermann became the first Swedish winner of the World Cup final when he won in Omaha in the USA. On Saturday, the feat was repeated in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh.
– I would like to be even happier, but now I am empty. Tomorrow the joy will probably come in full, he told SVT.
Frenchman Julien Epaillard put pressure on the Swede before the last competition. The pressure did not lessen when von Eckermann fell off his horse during the warm-up, but he kept his cool and delivered another flawless round.
Peder Fredricson on Catch Me Not completed a great Swedish day by finishing in joint 3rd place, after Patrik Kittel on Touchdown on Friday won the dressage world cup final.
The World Cup final was affected by an animal tragedy on Friday. American Jill Humphrey cheered for 3rd place in the show jumpers’ second round, but afterwards her horse Chromatic, a 13-year-old gelding, collapsed and died.
(© NTB)