André Thieme is not someone who crawls into a mouse hole when things are going badly. Not this time either. The reigning European champion, who was also a three-time show jumping derby winner, had fallen off his horse at the worst possible moment in his riding career. His mare Chakaria catapulted him out of the saddle with a giant leap at jump three of the course that was decisive for the team.
A man like a giant and yet at that moment a heap of misery, close to tears – this is how the 47-year-old faced the microphones and cameras after his fall, which cost the German riders a possible medal at the World Championships in Herning, Denmark. “This is the most embarrassing moment of my life,” said Thieme. Indeed, a fall of the horse, a refusal – that can happen to anyone. But falling off when the horse has cleared the obstacle without making any mistakes is a show jumper’s honour.
“I’m disappointed with myself,” said Thieme: “The mare was so up in the air. She just jumped too well. I just got one under my ass.” The slow motion shows, however, that the same man was already floating a meter above the saddle over the obstacle, the whole seat of the 1.90 meter tall man was somehow out of joint, his legs were far from the horse, the balance could no longer be maintained. The rider fell onto the sand, unharmed, as did his horse.
Then he falls out of the saddle: André Thieme can no longer keep his balance, a little later he falls.
(Photo: Friso Gentsch/dpa)
Chakaria, a little agitated by the situation, picked up speed and raced around the square at a full gallop for several laps. Attempts to stop the mare failed. She ran past her rider, as well as his teammate Marcus Ehning, who had to dodge twice for his own safety. “I was also afraid that she would jump over the gang into the audience,” said Ehning. He quick-wittedly grabbed the top pole of the nearest oxer and held it across his body. Eventually Chakeria had let off enough steam, dropped into a trot and allowed himself to be led off the track.
One jumping error less would have at least been enough for the German team to win the bronze medal
Even national coach Otto Becker could not explain the total failure. “I have to digest that first, I’m really speechless,” he said: “I’ve never experienced anything like that in 14 years as national coach. That’s bitter, our medal dreams were ended abruptly. But I don’t blame André, he has After all, it wasn’t done on purpose.”
Thieme and twelve-year-old Chakeria are usually among the best couples in German show jumping. After winning the European Championship last year, Thieme also scored points this season, for example in the Aachen Nations Cup and in the Falsterbo Grand Prix. His nomination for Herning was not in question for a moment, his name at the top of the list. The Mecklenburger’s riding style is a bit special, also adapted to the sensitive chestnut mare, which usually improves from day to day in the course of a tournament. She is overcautious, doesn’t want to touch a pole under any circumstances, then sometimes there are such spectacular sentences that Thieme can usually sit out. If Otto Becker has his way, Thieme should be used again as soon as possible, preferably in the Nations Cup final in Barcelona in September, so that the disaster in Herning can be pushed back as quickly as possible.
The German show jumping team finished fifth, one jumping error less and it would have been enough for the bronze medal. At least the Olympic qualification – a place among the top five teams – was secured. Christian Ahlmann, who had nothing to do with the decision despite good rounds on Dominator, spared his stallion the two rounds of the individual final, in which only Jana Wargers and Marcus Ehning represented the German colors. Ehning was fifth, Wargers was ninth. The new world champion was the Swede Henrik von Eckermann with King Edward ahead of the Belgian Jerome Guery and the Dutchman Maikel van der Vleuten.
But there is nothing bad without good: if he had to end the fight for the world championship title prematurely, Andre Thieme was at least happily expected at home: for his daughter Johanna’s enrollment party. Otherwise he would have missed it.