Sweden’s silver medal in horse jumping – it was 17 percent gold

Swede Henrik von Eckermann and horse King Edward were the first of three Swedish carriages in the singles final.

It was a great start.

von Eckermann started 10th and stood for a flawless jump in time 85.48. Which then was the best result.

“I weep with joy,” says commentator Linda Head in Discovery+.

The next faultless crew was home racer Daisuke Fukushima, who was, however, a bit slower than von Eckermann with a time of 87.57.

Baryard Johnson

The next Swede was Malin-Baryard-Johnsson, who is participating in her fifth Olympics.

And after the starting half-field, it was Swedish domination because Baryard-Johnson was also faultless with the Indiana horse at time 87.22.

German gold nominee Daniel Deusser put in a solid effort to the finish when he and Queen Keeler’s horse were noted for eight fouls. Deusser already took an Olympic bronze from the team competitions in the vaulting in Rio 2016. Dutchman Michael van der Vleuten with horse Beauville Z was flawless.

All Swedes are flawless

Peder Fredricson took the silver at Rio 2016. Today he continued the Swedish track when he and horse All in passed the track flawlessly in time 86.77.

Of the six who ran the course without any errors, there were three Swedes, all of whom prepared to jump for medals.

– It was an incredibly good feeling, it was a bit feverish. The jump will be tough, and we have to focus again and finish in a good way, says Henrik von Eckermann to Discovery.

Six crew members, three medal chances

Once they arrived, all the Swedes were flawless. Despite a starting position with three medal chances, there was only one chance. Then Peder Fredrickson grabbed the silver after passing the course in a time of 38.02.

“It was great, I’m very happy and proud of the horse and the team,” Fredrickson tells Discovery.

“I was a little way off last time, I have to train to be a little faster,” Fredrickson continues.

Malin Baryard-Johnsson and Henrik von Eckermann put in huge efforts that weren’t enough all the way to the medal, but they had to settle for fifth and fourth, respectively.

– First of all, the horse did everything right. Then fourth place is the most ungrateful place, it’s snappy, says Von Eckermann who is disappointed.

At the Olympic Games in Rio 2016, she was also a silver for the crew, which at that time was 53 part of a hundred Olympic gold.

– I’m so proud of everyone. We gave everything we had but it was enough for everyone. But to get a silver medal five years later with the same horse is great, national team captain Henrik Ancarkrona tells Discovery.

The winner was pre-favourite Ben Maher of Great Britain with horse Explosion W, who was 17th quickest than Fredrickson with a time of 37.85.

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