“A legend in his own lifetime, a complete horseman and a man who is deeply involved in the development of the sport.” That was the description of Olympian Ludger Beerbaum given by FEI Jumping Director, John Roche, today after the announcement of the German rider’s retirement from his national team.
Ludger, who turns 53 later this month, has been the rock on which his country depended at championship level for almost 30 years.
He won his first Olympic team gold in Seoul 1988, riding The Freak; his second at Atlanta in 1992 with the great mare Ratina Z, and his third with Goldfever III at Sydney in 2000. He clinched individual gold with Classic Touch at Barcelona in 1992, with the only clear of the day. In Barcelona teams competition he performed a flying dismount from the horse when the bridle broke mid-round, and had to retire. You can watch a You Tube video of his winning individual round on this link.
At his seventh Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro yesterday he added team bronze to his collection. He did not qualify for the individual final, as there can be only three riders from each country, and his was the lowest of the German scores (eight faults in the first round). But he did make a major contribution to the team’s result, posting two clears and also going clear in the jump-off against Canada for the bronze medal. Add in two gold, one silver and one bronze at World Championships, and six gold, three silver and two bronze from European Championships, and the enormity of the achievement of this German flag-bearer and supreme athlete is evident.
Ludger always wanted to quit at the top, and he will make his final appearance in his red Team Germany jacket at the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final in Barcelona next month. Emotions are likely to run high as he returns for the last time to the scene of that glorious Olympic achievement at the very same venue, the Real Club de Polo, 24 years ago.
“It was a tough decision” he said today. But he’s not leaving the sport completely: “I’m working on a number of projects and I will focus on my stable at home, and on training and selling young horses.” In fact, his enormous influence will continue to be felt in many ways, because his equestrian centre, Riesenbeck International, which opened just last year, will host national tournaments, clinics and international seminars. It seems he will, in fact, remain right at the heart of the sport.
In addition to his work in Europe as President of the Longines World Equestrian Academy, Ludger will support the development of the show jumping market in Asia.
“It’s great to know we will continue to have the benefit of Ludger’s tremendous experience in years to come,” John Roche added. “He will remain a highly influential figure.”
“I won’t get bored!” the phenomenally successful show jumper said today. “I’m grateful that I was able to represent Germany as a rider. Now this is a job for my younger colleagues.”
Ludger Beerbaum is the oldest of four children, his siblings being Ruth, Monika and show jumper Markus, who is married to Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum. He began riding on a Highland pony at the age of eight.
