Australia’s Three-Day Eventing Team has secured its place in the London Olympic Games. The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) confirmed the team’s qualification today.
Australia has now secured a team for all three Olympic equestrian team competitions as well as the Paralympic team competition.
Australian Eventing riders have won 7 Olympic team medals (including 4 gold) as well as 4 individual medals. The team was unlucky to miss 2012 Olympic qualification at their regional team qualification event in 2011 and was therefore dependent on individual rider rankings to secure a team place at London.
1 March was the deadline for the FEI to finalise the individual rider qualifications ahead of the Olympic Games. Australian riders claimed the top nine places on these rankings.
National Performance Director for Eventing Prue Barrett is happy tohave the team’s inclusion at London confirmed, “We have been watching the rider rankings closely and we were always confident as Australia has consistently had plenty of riders in the top 20. So whilst we fully expected to qualify the team it is great to have it confirmed so we can move forward with our training and preparation as planned for London.”
“Australia is focussed on a medal performance at London. We have a great squad of riders and horses with a good mixture of experienced combinations and up-and-coming stars hungry for their first Olympic Team. I am confident that our team will mount a strong challenge for the podium,” added Barrett.
A country, which qualifies three to five riders via the FEI individual rider rankings, can form a composite team. Claiming the top 8 rankings (of countries which have not already qualified a team for the Games) Australia easily secured a team of five for London.
The full list of qualified of the 41 qualified nations for the equestrian disciplines can be found HERE
