Tuesday, November 02, 2021
Apparently revolution in the pentathlon
Riding is about to end after the Olympic scandal
The horror after the pictures of the desperate Annika Schleu and her refusing horse at the Olympic Games is great. The world association can apparently no longer overhear allegations of cruelty to animals and criticism of the rules: the riding sub-discipline is to be deleted.
It was Olympic images that shocked, that stuck. It was Olympic images that had sparked a heated and heated debate internationally: The German pentathlete Annika Schleu had lost control of her horse during the competition in Tokyo. It was sheer desperation. Her trainer then recommended: “Hit it!” and hit the horse. Now there are probably serious consequences from the world association.
As the “Guardian” writes, the sub-discipline of riding should be deleted as a result of this scandal and replaced by cycling in the future. The always well-informed Olympic portal “insidethegames” also reports on this upcoming revolution. It’s not official yet. The decision is said to have been made in secret in the past few days. The “Guardian” cites several sources that have confirmed this.
The world association has not yet commented on the plans, but has announced a comprehensive press release for November 4th. The results of several consultations are to be presented there. As the “Guardian” reports, behind the decision is also the fear that the pentathlon could be removed from the Olympic list.
The imminent consequences are not met with everyone’s understanding: Former British athlete Kate Allenby complained to the Guardian that every step to replace horse riding as part of the pentathlon would be a “disaster” for the sport. Shortly after the events at the Summer Games in Tokyo, the German World Federation President Klaus Schormann had assured “that riding would remain an integral part of the modern pentathlon based on the vision of Baron Pierre de Coubertin”.
Horse and rider need partnership
The majority opinion, however, was: We urgently need consequences. Not only animal rights activists had demanded that. Stars from the equestrian scene also found extremely critical words. Among others, the dressage stars Isabell Werth and Jessica von Bredow-Werndl. The gold rider from Tokyo thought the rules were unsuitable. In her eyes it doesn’t work that an athlete adjusts to a strange horse in 20 minutes, she said in the ZDF sports studio.
“It’s just a matter of luck. You are drawn to a horse, the horse is drawn to a rider,” said the 35-year-old from Tuntenhausen, who won gold with the team and in the individual at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. “It has nothing to do with the sport, how we do it. We have worked with our partner for years.” It just can’t be compared. “You can’t build a partnership in 20 minutes.”
Trainer has been banned
National trainer Kim Raisner was punished by the UIPM world association for her controversial behavior in the riding drama about modern pentathlete Annika Schleu at the Olympic Games. The disciplinary committee of the world association instructed Raisner to complete a training seminar on the correct handling of horses. Only then will the Berliner be accredited again for a UIPM competition. She also received an official reprimand. If such an incident is repeated, as in Tokyo, she must expect her trainer license to be withdrawn.
Her athlete, however, was acquitted of allegations of excessive use of the crop and spurs. She had previously defended herself against the allegation of cruelty to animals and made public how violently she had been attacked, especially on the Internet. At the beginning of October it became known that the Potsdam public prosecutor’s office was investigating Schleu and Raisner for animal cruelty following a complaint from the Animal Welfare Association.
So far, the modern pentathlon consists of the disciplines swimming, fencing, riding and a combined running and shooting competition.