Nine riders and horses have been named by the British Olympic Association (BOA) to compete in the dressage, eventing and showjumping disciplines as part of the equestrian competition at the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Each discipline also names a travelling reserve.
The Paralympic dressage team has also been confirmed.
Eventing
World number one Oliver Townend (riding Ballaghmor Class), Tom McEwen (Toledo de Kerser) and Laura Collett (London 52) have been named to the eventing team (pictured above), with Piggy French (Brookfield Inocent) travelling reserve.
Dressage
In dressage, Charlotte Dujardin will be targeting a third consecutive Olympic individual title, this time riding Rio. If she nets gold, Charlotte will make history as the first ever British woman to do so.
Charlotte will be joined by Carl Hester (En Vogue), competing at his sixth Olympics, and Charlotte Fry (Everdale), for whom it is a first Games.
Gareth Hughes (Sintano Van Hof Olympia) is named as the travelling reserve for dressage.
Showjumping
In showjumping, Scott Brash riding Hello Jefferson joins Ben Maher (Explosion W) and Holly Smith (Denver). The travelling reserve is Harry Charles (Romeo 88).
Paralympic dressage
An experienced team of Sophie Christiansen CBE (Innuendo III), Sir Lee Pearson (Breezer) and Natasha Baker MBE (Keystone Dawn Chorus) will be vying for Paralympic dressage glory. This is the same team of riders that netted gold at the Rio 2016 Games. All three horses will be making their Olympic debuts.
Sophie Wells MBE (C Fatal Attraction) is the travelling reserve.
‘Potential to finish on the podium’
“There is an immense amount of experience across this team which will undoubtedly stand them in good stead in Tokyo,” said Mark England, Team GB Chef de Mission for the Tokyo Olympic Games.
He added that he is “confident we will send more female than male athletes to Tokyo this year, which is an historic moment for Team GB.
“To have double Olympic gold medallist Charlotte amongst them is something that I and the rest of the team are incredibly proud of.”
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Speaking about the selection, British Equestrian Performance Director and Equestrian Team Leader for Tokyo, Richard Waygood, said each team member “has the potential to finish on the podium”.
“Selection and preparation has been difficult ahead of Tokyo, however, we continue to remain resilient and focused to overcome the challenges of this year’s Games,” he added.
“Our human and equine sports science teams, working with the riders’ home teams, have left nothing to chance to ensure the athletes, both equine and human, are ready to fulfil that potential.”
