Tokyo2020: Sensational Swedes take Jumping Team gold

Sweden claimed Jumping Team gold tonight at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Baji Koen Equestrian Park where, in a thrilling jump-off against the clock, Henrik von Eckermann (King Edward), Malin Baryard-Johnsson (Indiana) and Peder Fredricson (All In) reigned supreme. But Team USA chased them all the way to the line, with tremendous performances from Laura Kraut (Baloutine), Jessica Springsteen (Don Juan van de Donkhoeve) and McLain Ward (Contagious).

This was Sweden’s fourth victory in the history of Jumping at the Olympic Games, but this latest win has been a long time coming. They took the team title three times in a row when Jumping was first introduced to the Games, on home ground in Stockholm in 1912, again in Antwerp, Belgium in 1920 and in Paris, France in 1924. But gold has eluded them ever since.

They were in exceptional form all week in Tokyo, and coming into tonight’s Final not one of their horses had lowered a fence. But with single errors from Baryard-Johnsson and Fredricson this evening they found themselves tied on a score of eight faults with the Americans after the first round and it came down to the final riders to clinch it.

America’s Ward piled on the pressure but Fredricson, who took Individual silver on Wednesday night, produced an heroic round with the great All In to clinch it.

Belgium’s Pieter Devos (Claire Z), Jerome Guery (Quel Homme de Hus) and Gregory Wathelet (Nevados S) were already confirmed for bronze before the jump-off began, having completed the first round on a total of 12 faults.

Results here