Kristy Oatley Withdraws from Selection for Australian Olympic Team, Leaving Simone Pearce, Mary Hanna, Kelly Layne Available for Tokyo
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June 23, 2021
Kristy Oatley on Wednesday withdrew from selection for Australia’s Olympic team leaving only Simone Pearce, Mary Hanna and Kelly Layne available for the squad for the Tokyo Games in a month.
Kristy, 42, said that the Covid-19 situation caused “significant challenges” to preparing DuSoleil for the Games that would have been the fifth Olympics for the rider. She rode DuSoleil, a 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding, in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
“As a mother my priority is always my children, and my daughter Rose is currently pursing her goal of being selected for the European Championships in August. I am committed to supporting Rose in achieving her dreams in the dressage arena and I am taking this time to enjoy the journey with her, and my family.”
Kristy, based in Germany, competed for Australia at Olympics in Sydney in 2000, Hong Kong in 2008, London in 2012 as well as Rio in 2016. Her dauighter, Rose, rides for Germany.
Lone Jorgenson, who competed at two Olympics for Denmark but now rides for Australia, and the Germany-based Lyndal Oatley, a cousin of Kristy, both recently withdrew from the Australian selection procedures.
The three remaining Australian combinations with qualifying scores are Simone Pearce, also based in Germany, on Destano, Amaondori and Double Joy; Mary Hanna, based in Australia, on Calanta and Syriana, and Kelly Layne, based in the United States on Samhitas.
