Meet the oldest Olympic showjumping competitor Rolf-Göran Bengtsson

On the age of 62, Swedish showjumper Rolf-Göran Bengtsson continues to be a number of years in the back of Nice Britain’s very personal mythical veteran John Whitaker, who turns 70 subsequent yr and just lately clinched victory for his nation within the Agria Countries Cup of Nice Britain.

However at Paris 2024, Rolf holds the dignity of being the oldest rider competing within the Olympic showjumping – lacking out best to 65-year-old Spanish dressage rider Juan Antoniio Jiminez Cobo of Spain because the oldest athlete competing on the 2024 Olympic Video games.

Rolf has an enviable Olympic document, leaping at his first Video games at Atlanta in 1996, profitable workforce silver at Athens in 2004 and particular person silver at the mighty Ninja L. a. Silla in Hong Kong 4 years later.

He helped Sweden’s possibilities of a medal in Paris significantly all the way through Thursday’s opening spherical of the workforce festival, generating an implausible transparent with Zuccero HV to make sure qualification for Friday’s workforce ultimate.

“I can’t ask extra of my horse, he in reality confirmed the standard he has,” says Rolf of the 12-year-old VDL Zirocco Blue stallion. “He used to be courageous, he used to be cautious, he let me journey him precisely like I sought after to have the pony going. I’m more than pleased and he confirmed me what we will do.

“My best little factor used to be that once the water he went somewhat longer than I walked it, so I needed to push moderately laborious to achieve that distance of 5 strides. However he did it smartly. He lived as much as his high quality and I’m tremendous satisfied for him and it’s nice for everyone round him.”

Sweden’s high-calibre workforce are protecting Olympic showjumping champions

Sweden has reigned as Eu, Olympic and international showjumping champions for the previous 365 days and, after a few years as the rustic’s main rider, Rolf published how tough it’s now to earn a spot at the squad with such a lot of high-calibre riders all vying for a spot.

“I used to be perhaps a bit of bit on my own there for a few years, however now we have now an excellent sturdy workforce,” says Rolf, these days ranked seventy fifth on the planet.

Rolf used to be lacking from Sweden’s championship roster for a number of years after Rio 2016, best returning to the fold in 2021. He and Zuccero have been a part of the squad who gained workforce gold on the Eu Championships in Milan final yr and he used to be picked as one among Sweden’s trio leaping for spherical one of the most Paris Olympic showjumping along Henrik von Eckermann (King Edward) and Peder Fredricson on Catch Me No longer S.

“It used to be laborious to get in, like in Tokyo there used to be no likelihood to wreck into the 3 riders there, so I’m more than happy to come back again with a horse like Zuccero and he has proved now that he’s additionally one among them,” says Rolf.

“He’s moderately certain of himself, he’s courageous, he’s cautious, he’s great to journey – all of the excellent sure issues and in a excellent combine. I simply need to play my card in one of the simplest ways and he can do the task.”

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H&H showjumping editor

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her position as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her all over the world reporting from displays and interviewing riders, connections and the ones concerned in the back of the scenes. Since becoming a member of H&H from BBC Game in 2005, she has written on each topic around the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to solid control — and has interviewed gold medallists, international champions and winners galore. She additionally has first-hand enjoy of operating within the equestrian business as a driving teacher and backyard supervisor.