GERMAN eventing legend Michael Jung has announced the retirement of his reigning world and Olympic champion fischerChipmunk FRH at the age of 18.

“After careful consideration, I have decided to retire fischerChipmunk from competition. He is doing really well, and it means a lot to me to see him this fit and healthy,” Jung said in an update this week.

“Individual Olympic gold in Paris, two wins at Kentucky (CCI5*), team gold at the Europeans in Blenheim and, to round it all off, individual gold at the World Championships in Aachen in front of a home crowd - what a journey. Of course, Chip is staying with me and will enjoy life out in the field even more from now on. I am incredibly grateful for our time together - and it doesn’t end with his retirement from the sport.

“A huge thank you also goes to the fischer group and the DOKR [German Olympic committee for equestrian sport] for giving me the chance to ride this exceptional horse and to achieve all these incredible, unforgettable successes with him!”

First ridden by Jung’s compatriot Julia Krajewski right up to championship level (they led the dressage at the 2018 World Equestrian Games), Jung took over the ride in 2019, the same year they went on to win team gold and individual silver at the Europeans in Luhmühlen.

His individual gold medal-winning moment finally came at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, followed by another individual gold in Aachen this summer at the World Championships. In all, Chipmunk won two individual golds, two individual silvers, three team golds and two team silvers over eight consecutive championships.