Steve Guerdat made history today, joining an elite club of riders to win the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ title three times. The Swiss jumper and 11-year-old Dutch gelding Alamo entered today's finale in Gothenburg in third place. Alamo, competing in his first championship, rose to the occasion. He was all heart, and Steve gave him the room he needed to do the job on Santiago Varela's testing track.
“When I was young I used to dream of winning the World Cup, and when I finished second twice I wondered if it would ever happen,” Steve said. “So when I won in 2015 it was very special, and to win here in Gothenburg the next year was even better because this is such a great show, the crowd is like nowhere else, and the atmosphere is unbelievable. To win three times, and to do it in Gothenburg again today, this makes me very proud!”
Watch Steve and Alamo ride to win.
Fast Facts About Steve Guerdat:
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He's nothing if not consistent. Steve has been to every World Cup Final since 2012. He won his first one in 2015 and won again in 2016.
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A prodigy of the sport, Steve made his Olympic debut at the age of 22, at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, and won his first medal — individual gold — at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
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Alamo and Steve partnered in 2017. They picked up their first international win the same year at the Oslo CSI5* 1.60m Grand Prix.
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Steve said he was nervous before Friday's speed class because this was Alamo's first championship, but "in the end he has been amazing all week!"
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Philippe Guerdat, Steve's father, rode at the international level and has served as coach of the French and Belgian equestrian teams.
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Steve idol is Thomas Fuchs, father of Martin Fuchs, who finished second in the World Cup Final.
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Photos by Shannon Brinkman.