Klimke ruled out of Tokyo

THE reigning European champion Ingrid Klimke has been ruled out of the Tokyo Olympic Games this summer after suffering a serious chest injury in Poland last weekend. The German rider, who was aiming to ride at her sixth Olympics, has undergone surgery and hopes to be back in time for September’s European Championships.

Writing on her Facebook page, she said: “After falling in the grounds of Equestrian Festival Baborówko 2021, I suffered a serious injury to the ribcage. The surgery in Münster went well and now I need peace and time to heal! I am very sad that my biggest dream – to participate in my sixth Olympics has burst! Defending our at the European Championship in September is our next big goal!”

Klimke was aiming for Tokyo with her double European champion and world individual bronze medallist SAP Hale Bob OLD. The pair were in the lead of the CCI4*-S after cross-country at Baborówko but they were withdrawn before the show jumping after Ingrid’s fall from Cascamara, the 2020 six-year-old young horse world champion, in the CCI3*-S.

The last time Klimke was not in a German championship team was the Europeans in 2003, 18 year ago. Germany would have been among the favourites for team gold at the upcoming Olympic Games.