https://eventingnation.com/the-olympic-update-whos-actually-going/
Tilly is a great writer I think and gets down to the intricate stuff.
E РCentral and South America: Chile leads the way for this individual slot, with Carlos Lobos Mu̱oz and Ranco sitting atop the list of athletes from unqualified nations. Puerto Rico takes slot two, with Lauren Billys and Castle Larchfield Purdy sitting second.
Yippee for Ranco and his human!!! I would love another opportunity to see this pair run and jump.
2 Likes
@Larksmom the title of this thread is confusing to me: is it meant to indicate that Canada might send individual riders? If not, it is incorrect: Canada will not send a team to Tokyo.
The article you linked reflects no change to what has been true for a long time: Canada will almost certainly be able to send individual riders (even if Brazil loses their team slot I do not believe they would have two combinations ranked higher than any Canadian combination, which means Canada could send at least one individual, and more than likely two), but Canada will not be allowed to field a team in Tokyo.
There are currently no team slots up for grabs, but there is debate over whether Brazil can retain the spot for which they had previously qualified, as one of the qualifying horses has been sold. Even if the Brazilians lose their Olympic team qualification due to the sale of Coronel MCJ (this is not assured), that spot would go to Belarus or failing that to the Netherlands before Canada could be considered (it should also go to Russia before Canada but Russia has been DQ’d as a country from the 2020 Olympics). Belarus can submit a COC (for example, Carlo Grande Jr., Martinie, and Dionis are three qualified horses), as can the Netherlands (for example, Bayro, Ceda, and Image of Roses). Therefore, Canada would not be considered. Composite teams are not allowed under new Olympic rules, so there is no chance of creating a team from three individual spots: those are capped at two per country. There are no further qualification opportunities for teams, so Canada will not be sending a team to Tokyo.
I must admit, the reporting around this has been frustrating. Tilly has done a wonderful job of breaking everything down, but other reporters and some riders have made incorrect statements over the past few months in print and in interviews that have led fans and even riders to believe there is hope where none exists. It isn’t a good way to encourage fans in the sport, and it is difficult to keep breaking hearts when the truth has been set in stone since Pratoni in mid-November.
Olympic rankings can be found here: https://data.fei.org/Ranking/Search.aspx?rankingCode=C_OG
I don’t think I implied a team for Canada, but at least they can send individuals. I just think it is wrong to allow China a slot and not Canada. I know they are different continents, but Canada has a lot of really good riders. I was under the impression Russia was banned but could ride under the Olympic flag. That of course doesn’t have anything to do with canada, but I didn’t know Canada was eligible before. Just too confusing for me.
Why is it wrong for China to have a team? Alex Hua Tian is a brilliant rider and holds his own with the best. It’s great to see the sport growing in China and Alex having the chance to have a team with him for a change. The others have qualified at 4* European events
5 Likes
Nothing against Alex, he IS very good. It just seems odd to me, that they want to cut the competition back to 3 days, but they want to expand the number of teams. I think it is terrible that Canada cannot send a team, and remember, we only qualified by the skin of our teeth.
Canada just doesn’t have resources currently, and we just have not been good enough. We may be good enough now, but its too late, the Team ship has sailed.
If we do send individuals, I hope we send those who are the most competitive, and not those who have the biggest lawyers and finances backing them.
1 Like
Sounds like the article says Karl Slezak and Colleen Loach
1 Like
The competition is being cut back to three days thanks to the implementation of a shortened dressage test that takes less than four minutes to ride (link: https://inside.fei.org/system/files/New%20Olympic%20Short%20Test%20Eventing_October%202019.pdf). Effectively, a day of dressage is removed while everything else stays relatively the same (they have just announced that XC in Tokyo will only run 8 minutes, but that is due to heat concerns that prompted a similar response to the decision in Beijing/Hong Kong in 2008 - it is not intended to be the official format going forward).
There are 15 team spots for the Olympics in Tokyo. There were only 11 available in Rio (though 13 competed as 2 additional composite teams were formed - that will not be allowed in Tokyo). Link to Rio qualification document: https://inside.fei.org/system/files/Eventing%20-%20Rio%202016%20-%20Qualification%20System_09March2016.pdf.
All this is to say that the newest Olympic format has been designed to allow more teams to compete in Tokyo than ever before (albeit with fewer riders - 3 to a team instead of 4. But that’s a different conversation). The unfortunate fact is, Canada failed to qualify, despite several opportunities (WEG, Pan Ams, they did not attempt the Nation’s Cup). I would love to see them compete there as well, but it isn’t China’s fault that they won’t.
2 Likes
Those are the riders that will likely secure the individual spots for Canada (unless the FEI mixes it up by declaring Brazil’s team qualification invalid following the sale of a horse from a qualifying combination, at which point the Olympic rankings for Group D will be re-ranked to include Canadian and Brazilian combinations). That does not mean those are the riders that must be sent. Those rankings determine the allocation of the spots to the countries - the countries determine who they send in those spots.
2 Likes
Yeah, saw that, but is that ENs saying that or EC? EC usually waits until the plane is boarding to announce the team :lol:
3 Likes
:lol: I guess, maybe, it’s the most likely ones that will go? I have absolutely no idea!
1 Like
Eventing Nation is correctly reporting who earned the spots per the Olympic ranking for Group D (unless the FEI mixes it up by declaring Brazil’s team qualification invalid following the sale of a horse from a qualifying combination, at which point the Olympic rankings for Group D will be re-ranked to include Canadian and Brazilian combinations). That does not mean those are the riders that must be sent. Those rankings determine the allocation of the spots to the countries - the countries determine who they send in those spots.
2 Likes
Thanks for clarification. I would be happy with this, hoping Woody and Selena are back out this spring though!!!
We need blood horses who can take the heat and run fast to head over there!
I thought it was really strange that EN said that Karl Slezak and Colleen Loach would get the slots this early on. In any case, who are your predictions? Selena and Woody are targeting Badminton as per Horse and Hound, and I imagine if they complete soundly they’re in. But as for the others…I feel that the field is wide open. The selectors seem to love CL but I’m rooting for Hawley and JollyBo or Jessie and Bogue - XC machines.
2 Likes
I would vote for Selena and Woody but I don’t think selectors will, his soundness long term is not guaranteed, as his injury before Badminton last year was potentially career ending I believe. It is amazing they have brought him back in top form. 100% of the time I would choose Woody, but I don’t selectors agree. I also don’t think the course will suit him, its going to be fast, turny, and tight and Woody is just massive with a huge stride. Hope I am wrong on this.
Hawley and Jollybo have not proved themselves on the world stage yet so I think that is a hard no for selectors.
Waiting on Karl to see how he performs at Kentucky this spring, would love to see him go
Colleen I think has a good chance. Lisa Marie also, if she can get her dressage improved a bit she would be a good choice as her horse is very very adjustable and very brave XC.
I think it will be Jessie and Bogue, simply because EC will be very weary of not sending her if she is qualified and has the points. I think Bogue would be a good choice for XC but for SJ and dressage, he hasn’t shown good results. That being said, season has started and he seems to have improved those already.
Has Waylon qualified? He could also potentially be a contender, if there is one thing he is good at, it is riding under pressure.
.
So I’m curious as to who you are referring to???
EC released the list of National and Development Squads for 2020 a few days ago.
If they choose two from the National Squad, there is
Hawley
Jessica
Selena
Colleen
Waylon
Mike Winter
I found it surprising that Karl Slezak and Holly J-S and Lisa Marie F. are on the Development Squad and not the National Squad.
En is saying Karl and Colleen are the ones who are in contention. Wonder how they came up with that?
https://eventingnation.com/tiptoeing-towards-tokyo-individual-quotas-confirmed-for-olympic-eventing/
